Santa Barbara County residents seeking resources for mental health due to increased challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic will now be able to find solace through a countywide effort to offer new services through several local organizations.
The programs are a response to the Community Mental Health Assessment survey, which showed that 61 percent of 5,000 participants reported “worse mental health” due to COVID-19, and that 21 percent of participants had someone close to them hospitalized due to the virus. The survey also showed an “increased level of anxiety and depression symptoms” for county residents, which reflects a greater trend across the world.
“Globally and nationally the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected many people’s mental health and created new challenges for people already suffering from mental illness and substance-use disorders,” said Santa Barbara County Department of Behavioral Wellness spokesperson Suzanne Grimmesey.
