BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Living in lockdown during COVID-19 can put all kinds of pressures on people in many different ways. On Friday, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh reminded residents that May is mental health month.
"It's important to take care of yourself, and to reach out to other people in need of help," said Walsh. "That's especially true right now. The pandemic has added a whole new set of challenges to everyday life for a lot of people. For people who were struggling before, it can be even harder to manage with this added weight."
Chris Turner is the director of ambulatory services at Link House, which treats adults with addiction or mental health issues around Salisbury, Newburyport, and Amesbury.
Turner told WBZNewsRadio it's an especially difficult time for those who were dealing with addiction and mental health issues before the pandemic.
"Just because of the uncertainty of what is going to happen in the future," said Turner. "The uncertainty of what's the future for my daily life? What's the future look like for my finances?"
Turner says the best thing to do in the morning is to establish realistic daily priorities, and try to get those accomplished.
WBZ NewsRadio's Carl Stevens (@CarlWBZ) reports:
"I'm here to tell you it's okay to feel fear and anxiety," said Mayor Walsh on Friday. "We all feel it in some way sometimes. It's important you are gentle with yourself and take care of yourself. We are all handling this the best we can, and the only thing we can do is take this one day at a time."
According to Link House's website, the Center for Behavioral Health & Addiction Services (CBHATS) in Amesbury is still open virtually, and is accepting new patients for therapy and medication appointments via Telehealth.
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