{"id":10269,"date":"2023-03-27T16:26:04","date_gmt":"2023-03-27T16:26:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/?p=10269"},"modified":"2024-07-22T15:12:51","modified_gmt":"2024-07-22T15:12:51","slug":"mental-health-through-the-public-health-lens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2023\/03\/27\/mental-health-through-the-public-health-lens\/","title":{"rendered":"Mental Health Through the Public Health Lens"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n\t\n\n\n
\n

RCAHD Community Health Update
\n<\/span>A Roanoke City & Alleghany Health Districts publication<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Mental Health Through the Public Health Lens<\/h2>\n

In March we marked the third anniversary of the first confirmed case of Covid in Virginia and shared the good news that our levels of lab-confirmed cases and hospitalizations have now stabilized at low levels. As Covid is likely to continue to be with us, we will remain vigilant while using the tools of surveillance, testing, vaccination, and treatment to manage the routine aspects of living with the disease.<\/p>\n

At this crossroads, we surveyed our newsletter readers to learn what they consider to be the most serious non-Covid public health issue that we face. While topics such as chronic disease and cancer received many votes, the issue that rose to the top of the list for most readers was mental health. The votes for mental health combined with the votes for substance use accounted for over 40% of the 1300 votes that were cast.<\/p>\n

Poor mental health can lead to financial, emotional, and physical strain that can create and exacerbate physical illnesses. According to a 2019 study in the medical journal, The Lancet, mental illness can reduce life expectancy by 20 years.<\/p>\n

In Virginia, state-funded mental health services for residents are primarily provided through community service boards and acute care psychiatric facilities. Although local health department offices do not typically receive funds to provide direct mental health services, we partner with many community-based partners and healthcare professionals to increase awareness of mental health issues, reduce stigma, and reduce health disparities with the goal that every resident receives the treatment they deserve and need.<\/p>\n

Stress has a direct impact on mental health. April is National Stress Awareness month, a time to reflect on the negative impact of stress. Stress can provide motivation to meet deadlines, but living with stress for a long period can cause harmful consequences such as sleeplessness, rapid heart rates, and depression. These in turn can lead to the need for more medical care, or worse, open the door to substance use as a coping mechanism.<\/p>\n

Here are some tips that can help minimize stress and reduce its negative health impacts:<\/p>\n