The ongoing pandemic is a collective, chronic stressor. This toolkit from the University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry was developed to assist healthcare providers as they navigate increased distress and mental health challenges in their patients during the current pandemic.
Pandemics and quarantines are known to cause a significant increase in mental health and substance use issues. In the sections below you will find information on how to screen your patients, scripts to use with patients, and resources for patients, including children, adolescents, adults, and geriatric patients and many specific populations.
All healthcare providers need to be aware of rapidly rising rates of traumatic stress reactions, elder abuse, child abuse, substance abuse, and sleep difficulties during and after the pandemic.