Further examination of Mental Health fallout from country’s situation

Originally posted on PT and request admins move but not much interest there. Hoping for some more insight on what others are seeing here and if it is inline with me or something different.

As this thing drags on I think its important to periodically keep ourselves aware of other areas of health impacted by Covid and all its wrought. For context I practice in Georgia, although not in the city of Savannah where I live but nearby, although due to the nationwide low numbers of psychiatrist I get patients from about a 50 mile radius and our wait time fluctuates around 9 weeks. This is also in State that has been full on open for months now.

1) Covid itself is rarely a primary or even secondary trigger or reason for patients seeking help
2) The average age of patients has increased somewhat significantly and most because inability to provide for family, loss of business, or lack of outside activity
3) Suicide and overdose rates have risen although not by what I would call a significant amount, but in my judgement could possibly be related to lockdowns, not getting social interaction mentally ill people generally need, and inability to get the proper care rapidly enough
4) While anxiety and depression is generally one of the most common patient types, these have exploded and for once in my life wouldn’t be opposed to GPs handling more of these to ease loads
5) Increase in Alcoholism, and addiction to Benzodiazepines and Opiods, leading to an increase in inpatient care in some cases

A few positives:

1) Much less patients are abusing their own medication, I have come to attribute this to people realizing that in this current climate they will need it and are actually interested in getting better
2) More patients being open to therapy and techniques to help manage problems without relying solely on medication
3) More patients being willing to alter currently existing Med regimens started by another doctor

These things tell me things have deteriorated for enough people their interest in getting well trumps anything else. I know this is just my experience but interested in takes.

ETA: This is solely what I’ve seen in my area, and realize some national trends may not be exactly in line. Interested to know if any other providers are seeing similar things.

Would also be interested in a physician in a field qualified to expound on if serious physiological conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, etc have seen similar differences. Some of my stimulant patients who have vitals tested at monthly visits have seen concerning increase in blood pressure outside of their norm and others.

Also, our practice has put in a way we can help reach patients at the back of the line possibly needing immediate care. Friday afternoons one person rates to zoom calls with those identified. A terrible time in history to have a shortage of psychiatrist all across the country.