>>HELLO, I'M STEVE MORT.

WELCOME TO A SPECIAL PRESENTATION OF NEWSNIGHT CONVERSATIONS, OUR SERIES THAT TAKES AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT ONGOING ISSUES IN OUR COMMUNITY, THROUGH THE EYES OF EXPERTS AND JOURNALISTS IN THE FIELD.

WELL, IT'LL BE A VAST UNDERSTATEMENT TO SAY THAT THE RIPPLE EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC CAN BE FELT IN EVERY CORNER OF SOCIETY.

TONIGHT WE'RE FOCUSING ON MENTAL HEALTH AND THE WIDE RANGE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING IN THESE TIMES.

LET'S START BY LISTENING TO SOME OF THE VOICES WE'VE HEARD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR ON NEWSNIGHT DISCUSSING THE MANY ISSUES WE'VE ENDURED AS A COMMUNITY.

>>MOVING VERY FAST FOR ALL OF THE WORLD AND CERTAINLY FOR ALL OF AMERICA, BUT ALL OF THESE PHENOMENALS ULTIMATELY END UP HAVING A LOCAL IMPACT.

>>WE'VE HEARD FROM FLORIDIANS ACROSS THE STATE, BUT ESPECIALLY HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA AN INABILITY TO GET TESTED.

REALLY STRICT TESTING CRITERIA THAT DOESN'T ALLOW THEM TO BE QUALIFIED, OR WHEN THEY DO QUALIFY, THEY GET TO THE TESTING SITE AND THEY CANNOT GET IN.

>>WE UNDERSTAND A LOT OF THESE KIDS, ESPECIALLY IN A POOR COMMUNITY LIKE COSTA LA COUNTY, THEY DEPEND ON THE SCHOOLS FOR EVEN NUTRITION, SUSTENANCE.

>>TOURISTS DON'T WANT TO COME HERE IF IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC AND I DON'T BLAME THEM, I WOULDN'T EITHER.

>>IT'S EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING.

YOU CAN'T REACH ANYONE TO GET ANY ANSWERS.

>>THERE WAS A REDUNDANCY BUILT IN SO THAT IF THE SYSTEM WENT DOWN, THE BACKUP WOULD TAKE HOLD AND PEOPLE COULD STILL USE IT.

WELL, TURNS OUT THAT THAT REDUNDANCY, THE BACKUP WAS NEVER ACTUALLY CONNECTED TO THE SYSTEM.

>>WE HAVE FIRST RESPONDERS THAT NEED TO BE ABLE TO GO TO WORK.

WE ALSO HAVE FOLKS THAT ARE STOCKING GROCERY STORES, KEEP THE GAS STATIONS OPEN, RESTAURANTS THAT ARE STILL SERVING FOOD.

SO WE HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE WORKING.

MANY HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN AND SOMEONE NEEDS TO CARE FOR THOSE YOUNG CHILDREN.

>>WE HAVE HEARD HOW PEOPLE WERE SUPPOSED TO START GETTING CHECKS AS SOON AS THE STIMULUS PACKAGE WAS PASSED AND MOST PEOPLE HAVE NOT SEEN A CHECK.

>>WE ARE ALL SURVIVORS OF TRAUMA NOW.

>>WELL, SO MANY REASONS TO TAKE A DEEPER LOOK AT THE IMPACT THE PAST YEAR HAS HAD ON OUR MENTAL HEALTH INDIVIDUALLY, AND AS A COMMUNITY.

JOINING THIS CONVERSATION TODAY, SEMINOLE COUNTY MEDICAL DIRECTOR, DR. TODD HUSTY, WMFE REPORTER DANIELLE PRIEUR AND MARNIE STAHLMAN PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF CENTRAL FLORIDA.

WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME FOR US TODAY.

DR. HUSTY, THERE'S BEEN TALK OF A SECOND PANDEMIC AND THAT'S A MENTAL HEALTH PANDEMIC EMERGING FROM THE LAST YEAR OF COVID-19.

DOES THAT REFLECT WHAT YOU'RE SEEING?

>>IT CERTAINLY DOES.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S TAKEN ITS TOLL ON ALL OF US.

I NOTICED MYSELF AT A COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.

I GOT TEARFUL.

I MEAN, IT'S LIKE WHAT THE HECK?

IT'S AFFECTING ALL OF US.

WHETHER WE KNOW IT OR NOT, IT'S AFFECTING ALL OF US.

SOME OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAVE ALREADY ASKED ABOUT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THE INCREASED MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES BECAUSE OF COVID?

SO GOOD.

I MEAN, IT'S BAD THAT IT'S HAPPENING, BUT WE HAVE INTEREST.

>>YEAH.

MARNIE, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

I MEAN THAT ISOLATION THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING, THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR HERE.

ISN'T IT?

>>I DO AGREE.

I THINK THAT THERE ARE A WHOLE HOST OF CONCURRENT RISK FACTORS FOR POOR MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE PROBLEMS.

THE OVERLOAD OF THE NEWS AND INFORMATION CYCLE THAT WE'RE ALL IN RIGHT NOW HAS CHANGED THE WAY THAT WE RESPOND BOTH PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY TO OUR ENVIRONMENT AROUND US.

AND THE CHANGES THAT WE'VE SEEN IN STOPPING WHERE WE NORMALLY WOULD GO TO WORK, WHERE THE DEMANDS AND CHANGES OCCUR THERE, WHERE WE SEEK OUR INTERACTIONS WITH PEERS.

CHANGES IN OUR OWN HOUSEHOLD DYNAMICS.

FINANCIAL, JOBS SECURITY CONCERNS.

THESE ARE ALL CONTRIBUTING TO WORSENING OF EXISTING HEALTH CONDITIONS, AND EVEN INCLUDING DIFFICULTIES LINKED TO CAREGIVING.

WE'VE SEEN AN ENORMOUS NUMBER OF WOMEN EXIT THE WORKFORCE AS A RESULT OF COVID AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES LINKED TO THEM FOR PARENTING AND CAREGIVING.

AND THOSE HAVE ALL BEEN CONTRIBUTORS THAT HAVE CREATED CHALLENGES THAT ISOLATION HAS BROUGHT ABOUT.

>>WELL, LET'S DRILL DOWN A LITTLE BIT MORE ON SOME OF THOSE SPECIFICS.

LET'S TURN TO DANIELLE PRIEUR OF WMFE.

DANIELLE, YOU'VE REPORTED EXTENSIVELY ON ISSUES SURROUNDING DOMESTIC ABUSE AND ISOLATION.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SPECIFIC MENTAL HEALTH RELATED ISSUES THAT HAVE ARISEN OVER THE LAST YEAR OUT OF YOUR REPORTING?

>>YEAH, I THINK IT'S A LOT OF WHAT MARNIE JUST SAID.

CHANGING HOUSEHOLD AND FAMILY DYNAMICS HAS REALLY MADE IT EASIER FOR AN ABUSER TO ABUSE THEIR VICTIM.

IT'S MADE IT HARDER TO GET AWAY TO NORMAL PLACES WE WOULD GET AWAY TO LIKE WORK AND SCHOOL AND SEE FRIENDS AND OUR FAITH COMMUNITIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO NOT ONLY IS IT HARDER TO GET AWAY, BUT IT'S HARDER FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT WOULD NORMALLY REPORT THE ABUSE OR HELP US REPORT THE ABUSE TO SEE US AND TO NOTICE THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME ISSUES OR SOME PROBLEMS.

SO WE'VE JUST SEEN THIS DRAMATIC RISE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

OTHER FACTORS, LIKE MARNIE SAID, ARE SOME OF THOSE SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS, RIGHT?

WHEN YOU LOSE A JOB AND YOU'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR A JOB FOR A YEAR, THAT REALLY IS A STRESSOR ON FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS.

AND SO OBVIOUSLY IT'S JUST GOING TO MAKE ANY ABUSE THAT IS THERE ALREADY SO MUCH WORSE IF YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT WHERE YOUR NEXT MEAL IS COMING FROM.

IF YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT GETTING COVID, IF YOU'VE LOST SOMEONE FROM COVID.

ALL OF THESE FACTORS ARE STRESSORS, WHICH JUST MAKE THAT ABUSE GO WAY UP.

>>I THINK THE UNEMPLOYMENT ISSUE IS REALLY IMPORTANT, DANIELLE, AND CERTAINLY OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN SO AFFECTED BY THE PROBLEM OF UNEMPLOYMENT DURING THE PANDEMIC.

ON ANOTHER PATH, I'D LIKE TO PLAY A SOUND BITE FOR YOU NOW.

LATE LAST YEAR I SPOKE WITH ANDRAE BAILEY, THE CEO AND FOUNDER OF PROJECT OPIOID.

AND HE HAD THIS TO SAY ABOUT THE ROLE ADDICTION HAS PLAYED DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

TAKE A LISTEN.

>>YOUNG PEOPLE AND MILLENNIALS WERE ALMOST MORE IN DANGER OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND OVERDOSE DEATHS THAN THEY WERE TO THE VIRUS ITSELF.

IN FACT, MORE YOUNG PEOPLE DIED IN FLORIDA IN 2020, SO FAR, OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

AND WHAT THEY WOULD SAY ARE COVID RELATED 2020 RELATED DEATHS OF DESPAIR, THEN EVEN THE VIRUS ITSELF.

AND SO WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS IF WE DO NOT HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO REACH OUT TO FOLKS WHO ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, SUBSTANCE USE ISSUES, AND WE DON'T GET THEM HELP RIGHT NOW, I THINK WE COULD SEE THAT DEATH TOLL SPIKE EVEN HIGHER THAN IT'S EVER BEEN BEFORE.

>>WELL LET'S TALK ABOUT THE RESOURCES HERE, DR. HUSTY OF SEMINOLE COUNTY, YOUR COUNTY'S HAD SOME PRETTY INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO OPIOIDS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

FLORIDA RANKS LOW IN TERMS OF PER CAPITA SPENDING ON MENTAL HEALTH.

ARE THERE ENOUGH RESOURCES WHEN IT COMES TO TRYING TO TACKLE THESE TWIN PROBLEMS?

>>WITH THE OPIOID CRISIS?

THE REAL QUESTION WAS IN, WHAT DO YOU DO ONCE YOU IDENTIFY SOMEBODY AND WHERE DO THEY GO?

WHERE DO THEY GET TREATMENT?

IF THEY'VE OVERDOSED, WHERE DO THEY GO?

WHERE DO THEY GO TO GET TREATMENT?

THAT IS FASHIONED JUST FOR THOSE, THE OPIOID OVERDOSE?

AND INDEED ULTIMA BECAME OUR QUOTE UNQUOTE OVERDOSE HOSPITAL.

WE'VE OPENED THE OUTPATIENT TREATMENT FACILITY, BUT THERE'S STILL MORE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

A LOT MORE.

BUT I GO BACK TO MY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IS THAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT THE OPIOID CRISIS AS HOW IT HAS BEEN LINKED AND WORSENED BY COVID, AND THEY HAVE COVID DOLLARS.

I THINK WE ARE REALLY GOING TO SEE THEM SPEND SOME COVID DOLLARS ON THE OPIOID CRISIS, WHICH WOULD BE GREAT.

>>MARNIE, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT RESOURCES ISSUE?

I MEAN, ARE THERE ENOUGH?

>>I THINK IT'S THE TALE OF TWO PANDEMICS COLLIDING.

CERTAINLY HERE IN FLORIDA, WE HAVE RANKED 48 OUT OF 50 IN MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.

I AM PARTICULARLY CONCERNED BECAUSE THE RATES OF SUICIDE IDEATION HAVE BECOME EXASPERATED AMONG OUR YOUTH, ESPECIALLY LGBTQ.

IN FACT, IN SEPTEMBER 2020 OVER HALF OF THE 11 TO 17 YEAR OLDS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY REPORTED THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE OR SELF-HARM.

AND THAT'S A PARTICULAR PANDEMIC THAT I THINK IS NOT BEING TALKED ABOUT ENOUGH AS THIS INTERSECTION, BECAUSE OUR KIDS HAVE BEEN HELD BACK FROM SCHOOL AND WE HAVEN'T HAD THE RESOURCES NORMALLY DISPLAYED FOR THEM AND PUT INTO PLACE THAT WOULD CAPTURE ANY ISSUES THAT THEY WOULD BE GOING THROUGH, THROUGH THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

AND NOW THEY'RE ISOLATED AT HOME.

AND AS DANIELLE HAS POINTED OUT, MAYBE BEING VICTIMIZED THROUGH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND OTHER ISSUES THAT WE AREN'T VISIBLY SEEING THE WAY THAT WE USED TO.

>>YEAH.

AND WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUE OF SCHOOLS A LITTLE LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

DANIELLE, I SEE YOU NODDING.

>>YEAH, I JUST THINK IT'S AN EVERYBODY PROBLEM, STEVE.

I THINK ONE IN FOUR PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

IT'S NOT JUST THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS.

EVERYBODY'S STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW.

AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET HELP IF YOU NEED IT, BECAUSE WE DON'T SEE ANY END IN SIGHT NECESSARILY TO THIS PANDEMIC, EVEN WITH THE VACCINES.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO REALIZE THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A TSUNAMI OF PEOPLE THAT NEED MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND THEY NEED TO PUT THE DOLLARS THERE TO HELP PEOPLE AND PROVIDE CARE WHEN THEY'RE READY TO STEP FORWARD AND GET HELP.

>>WELL, DANIELLE PRIEUR, DR. TODD HUSTY AND MARNIE STAHLMAN, I WANT TO THANK EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND FOR YOUR TIME.

STILL MUCH TO DISCUSS AHEAD, INCLUDING THE MENTAL HEALTH IMPACT OF UNEMPLOYMENT AND THE STRESSES THE PAST YEAR HAS HAD ON OUR CHILDREN.

>>I'M 62 YEARS OLD.

I HAVEN'T ...

THE ONLY TIME I'VE EVER BEEN OFF OF WORK AS ON MATERNITY LEAVE, SINCE I WAS 16 YEARS OLD.

>>I WAS CONCERNED THAT WE WOULD BE CLOSING DOWN PERMANENTLY IF WE HAD ANOTHER SHUTDOWN FOR THE CORONAVIRUS.

>>JOINING US NOW TO CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSION OF THE IMPACT THE PANDEMIC HAS HAD ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY IS DR. DEBORAH BIDEL, TRUSTEE CHAIR AND PEGASUS PROFESSOR OF PSYCHOLOGY AND MEDICAL EDUCATION AT UCF AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF UCF RESTORES.

WELCOME DR. BIDEL, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>>WELL, THANK YOU FOR INVITING YOU TO JOIN THIS DISCUSSION.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

>>WELL, WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN SEEING IN TERMS OF TRENDS IN MENTAL HEALTH?

IS THERE A PANDEMIC OF MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS AS PREDICTED?

>>YES.

I THINK EVEN FROM THE EARLIEST DAYS OF THIS PANDEMIC, PROFESSIONALS WERE POINTING TO THE FACT THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE THIS HIDDEN TOLL OF A PANDEMIC ON OUR MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING.

AND I THINK EVEN NOW FOR THOSE WHO ARE VACCINATED, THERE ARE STILL RESTRICTIONS.

STILL THINGS THAT ARE HOLDING US BACK.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THE EFFECTS OF MENTAL HEALTH AND COVID-19 VARY GREATLY FROM PERSON TO PERSON.

BUT WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT DESPITE THE CHALLENGES, PEOPLE CAN GET HELP.

THEY CAN GET THE HELP THEY NEED TO GET OVER THESE FEELINGS.

>>CERTAINLY IT RUNS THE GAMUT, DOESN'T IT?

A HOSPITALITY DRIVEN ECONOMY IN CENTRAL FLORIDA HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY HARD HIT BY THIS PANDEMIC.

HOW MUCH HAS THAT PLAYED INTO THIS DO YOU THINK?

OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING DURING THE UNEMPLOYMENT CRISIS.

>>YES, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT THE UNEMPLOYMENT CRISIS BECAUSE THAT THEN LEADS TO THIS CASCADE OF EFFECTS.

IF YOU LOSE YOUR JOB, YOU MAY LOSE YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE.

YOU MAY NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO PAY THE RENT.

SO ALL OF THESE CREATE ALL OF THESE STRESSORS THAT BUILD UP INSIDE OF YOU AND LEAD TO THINGS LIKE ANXIETY, DEPRESSION.

SOME OF THE HOSPITALITY WORKERS DID LOSE THEIR JOB.

OTHERS WERE CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL WORKERS AND HAD TO GO TO WORK.

AND THEN THAT LEADS TO ALL KINDS OF OTHER ANXIETIES.

AM I GOING TO CATCH THE PANDEMIC BECAUSE I'M WORKING IN THE SUPERMARKETS OR IN SOME AGENCY WHERE I REALLY CANNOT STOP GOING TO WORK?

>>YEAH, I THINK THAT ESSENTIAL WORKER PART OF THE PUZZLE IS KEY.

ANOTHER SECTION OF THE POPULATION IS ONE WHICH YOU'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH AND THAT'S OUR VETERANS.

THE UCF RESTORES PROGRAM HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE TREATMENT OF TRAUMA FOR NEARLY A DECADE NOW.

IN WHAT WAY IS THAT RESEARCH GIVEN YOU SOMETHING OF A LEG UP, IF YOU LIKE AS A PSYCHOLOGIST IN ADDRESSING SOME OF THE EVENTS OF THE PAST YEAR?

>>WELL, IT'S LED US TO BECOME MUCH MORE PROFICIENT AT TREATING TRAUMATIC EVENTS.

WE'VE BEEN DOING IT AT UCF RESTORES FOR 10 YEARS, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT OUR FACULTY AND STAFF, WE REALLY HAVE MORE THAN 60 YEARS OF COMBINED EXPERIENCES IN TREATING TRAUMA.

AND YES, WE'VE HAD THE HONOR OF WORKING WITH OUR VETERANS AND ALSO OUR FIRST RESPONDERS WHO HAVE BEEN ANOTHER GROUP AT REALLY HIGH RISK DURING TIMES OF THIS PANDEMIC.

THEY'VE SEEN SOME OF THE WORST THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN AND HAVE BEEN THE ONES AGAIN THAT HAD TO GO OUT AND BE INVOLVED WITH PEOPLE, TAKE PEOPLE TO THE HOSPITAL.

SO WHAT WE'VE LEARNED IS THAT YOU DON'T NEED TO HAVE SURVIVED A MASS SHOOTING OR AN IED EXPLOSION TO SUFFER FROM TRAUMA.

SO WE FELT THAT WE HAD TO QUICKLY ADAPT TO WHAT WE WERE DOING.

SO WE FLIPPED OUR CLINIC TO DO TELEHEALTH RATHER THAN IN-PERSON, SO WE COULD REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR VETERANS AND ACTIVE DUTY PERSONNEL, EMERGENCY ROOM PERSONNEL.

PEOPLE WHO WE KNEW WERE GOING TO NEED US.

AND THEN WE PUT TOGETHER A SERIES OF FACEBOOK LIVE VIDEOS TO JUST TALK TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT STRESS AND HOW TO HANDLE IT.

>>YEAH, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DIVIDED DURING THIS PANDEMIC, QUITE LITERALLY PHYSICALLY, BUT ALSO IN A WAY THROUGH SOCIAL ISSUES, RANGING FROM RACIAL DIVIDES TO POLITICAL ONES AS WELL.

HOW CAN PEOPLE REPAIR RELATIONSHIPS AND TRUST THAT MAY HAVE BEEN STRAINED OVER THE LAST YEAR?

THIS IS SOMETHING I'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE INDEPENDENTLY.

>>I THINK THAT THE END OF THE DAY, THE ONLY WAY TO REPAIR THOSE IS TO COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY AND WITHOUT CENSORSHIP.

SO I THINK WE HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEWS.

WE DON'T HAVE TO LIKE THEM AND WE DON'T HAVE TO ACCEPT THEM.

BUT WE DO HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE THINK DIFFERENTLY AND THAT EMPATHY HAS FALLEN TO THE WAYSIDE.

AND I THINK IF WE CAN BACK TO THAT IDEA, THAT WE'RE ALL STRUGGLING IN SOME WAY, THAT WE'RE ALL STRESSED AND WE'RE TRYING DIFFERENT WAYS TO DEAL WITH IT.

IF WE CAN REACH OUT TO OTHERS AS A PERSON AND NOT AS A POLITICAL OPPONENT, I THINK WE'LL GET A LOT FURTHER ALONG.

>>AS A PSYCHOLOGIST, WHAT DO YOU THINK WE'VE LEARNED OF LATE THAT MIGHT HELP US IN THE FUTURE?

JUST TAKING THIS FORWARD A BIT.

ARE THERE LESSONS TO BE LEARNED HERE?

AND WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED, DO YOU THINK?

>>I THINK OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE'VE ALL FACED A VARIETY OF CHALLENGES.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT CHALLENGES, BUT WE'VE ALL HAD CHALLENGES.

BUT I THINK WHAT WE'VE LEARNED IS THE STRENGTH AND THE RESILIENCY THAT REALLY IS WITHIN ALL OF US.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT TRAUMATIC EVENTS, THE MOST COMMON RESPONSE IS RESILIENCY AND RECOVERY.

WE MAY SUFFER FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, BUT WE'RE VERY, VERY LIKELY TO USE THE SKILLS THAT WE HAVE, THE STRENGTHS THAT WE HAVE TO GET OVER AND GET BACK TO WHATEVER IS GOING TO BE IN THIS CASE, OUR NEW NORMAL.

I THINK IT'S THAT STRENGTH AND THAT RESILIENCY THAT'S GOING TO GET US THROUGH THESE TOUGH TIMES.

>>WELL DEBORAH BEIDEL FROM UCF RESTORES, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US WITH YOUR INPUT ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.

APPRECIATE IT.

>>STILL MORE AHEAD AS WE LOOK AT THE YOUNGEST AMONG US AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO ADDRESS THE MENTAL STRAIN THEY FACE.

IN TIMES OF CRISIS, HOW WE TALK AND COUNSEL OUR CHILDREN IS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE.

AFTER THE PULSE TRAGEDY, WUCF DEVELOPED MEET THE HELPERS, A RESEARCH-BASED VIDEO AND EDUCATIONAL TOOL AIMED AT HELPING THE YOUNGEST AMONG US BETTER UNDERSTAND FIRST RESPONDERS, PLUS OTHER CRITICAL CARE PROFESSIONALS AND ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL.

IN LINE WITH OUR TOPIC TODAY, HERE'S ONE EXAMPLE OF AN IMPORTANT HELPER.

>>HI, MY NAME IS DR. S. I AM VERY PROUD OF MY JOB BECAUSE I CARE FOR HOW PEOPLE FEEL, THINK, AND BEHAVE.

I AM A COUNSELOR.

COUNSELORS TEACH US WORDS WE CAN USE TO TELL OTHERS HOW WE FEEL.

THEY ALSO HELP US TO MAKE GOOD CHOICES AND SET GOALS FOR THE FUTURE.

WE CAN ALSO HELP BY CONNECTING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY TO OTHER HELPERS LIKE DOCTORS AND TEACHERS.

COUNSELORS WORK IN OFFICES, HOSPITALS, AT YOUR SCHOOL.

EVEN SOMETIMES IN COMMUNITY CENTERS.

WE ARE IMPORTANT HELPERS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE WE HELP PEOPLE LEARN ABOUT THEMSELVES AND THEIR PLACE IN THE WORLD.

>>FROM PRESCHOOL TO GRAD SCHOOL, THE PANDEMIC AND THE MANY SOCIAL ISSUES WE'VE SEEN IN THE LAST YEAR HAVE HAD A SIGNIFICANT AND POTENTIALLY LASTING NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR CHILDREN.

WELL, JOINING ME TO DISCUSS THAT IMPACT, A JOURNALIST WILKINE BRUTUS, A REPORTER WITH WLRN IN SOUTH FLORIDA AND FROM SEMINOLE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, COUNSELOR CASSANDRA PALMER.

THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH ME TODAY.

LET ME START WITH YOU, CASSANDRA.

THE GOVERNOR HAS TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH TOLL OF SCHOOL CLOSURES ON CHILDREN.

DO YOU AGREE THAT IT HAS HAD A TOLL?

AND TELL US WHAT YOU'VE BEEN SEEING THERE IN SEMINOLE COUNTY.

>>HERE IN SEMINOLE COUNTY I'VE DEFINITELY SEEN A HUGE INCREASE IN REFERRALS.

WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE STRUGGLING TO ADAPT.

STRUGGLING TO ADAPT TO IN PERSON LEARNING, VIRTUAL LEARNING.

WE HAVE SOMETHING CALLED SEMINOLE CONNECT, WHICH IS LIKE VIRTUAL BUT THEY CALL INTO THE CLASSROOMS.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE SEEN IS JUST A LOT OF MONKEY WRENCHES BEING THROWN INTO PLANS, AND JUST A LOT OF STRUGGLING TO ADAPT.

OUR KIDS ARE RESOURCEFUL AND THEY'RE RESILIENT, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THE PANDEMIC IS ANYTHING THAT ANYONE HAS EVER DEALT WITH BEFORE.

SO I THINK THAT WE'VE SEEN JUST A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING TO LEARN NEW SKILLS TO DEAL WITH THE STRESS THAT THEY WERE NOT EVER PREPARED FOR.

>>WILKINE, IT'S ALSO BEEN A TESTING YEAR FOR MANY PEOPLE WITH THE KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD AND THE RECENT TRIAL OF DEREK CHAUVIN.

NOT LONG AGO, YOU DID A STORY ON HOW STUDENTS AT HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN FLORIDA ARE FINDING DIFFERENT WAYS TO COPE WITH UNCERTAINTY AND RACIAL INJUSTICE AS COVID-19 AS AN ADDED STRESSOR LAID ON TOP.

WHAT DID YOU FIND?

>>YEAH, A LOT OF STUDENTS ARE FINDING DIFFERENT COPING METHODS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

ONE INCLUDES WATCHING MANY CONCERTS ON THE INSTAGRAM LIVE.

ATTENDING VIRTUAL VIGILS.

GROUP TALK SESSIONS.

BUT FOR THE MOST PART, A LOT OF STUDENTS ALSO SAW SOME SILVER LININGS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

ONE INCLUDES THIS SORT OF OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF INTEREST IN THE STOCK MARKET.

SO FINANCIAL LITERACY, ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT.

THE CLOSURE OF BUSINESSES AND THE CLOSURE OF SOME OF THEIR OWN JOBS WITHIN THOSE SAID BUSINESSES CREATED THIS SORT OF SURVIVOR MODE WHERE THE TOPICS SURROUNDING GENERATIONAL WEALTH WAS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN NAVIGATING THIS SORT OF UNDYING SENSE OF ANXIETY IN AIR.

AND SO THAT...A LOT OF SILVER LININGS, BUT A LOT OF STRESS INVOLVED IN SOME OF THE RACIAL JUSTICE PROTESTS ON TOP OF THE PANDEMIC.

>>AND CASSANDRA, IS THIS SOMETHING YOU THINK ABOUT TOO?

DO YOU TALK TO STUDENTS OF COLOR AT A YOUNGER AGE ABOUT THESE ISSUES?

>>AS A COUNSELOR, WE'RE TAUGHT TO HAVE UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD AND ALWAYS LOOK AT HOW AN INDIVIDUAL'S EXPERIENCES AFFECT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

AND SO WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO TAKE GENDER ISSUES OR RACIAL ISSUES OR ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE AFFECTING THEM INTO CONSIDERATION AND TRY TO BE AS CULTURALLY SENSITIVE TO THAT AS POSSIBLE AND INCLUDED IN THE CONVERSATION.

I'VE HAD A LOT OF STUDENTS, EVEN AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL, ASK ME QUESTIONS ABOUT THINGS GOING ON IN THE WORLD.

AND I TRY TO JUST ENCOURAGE THEM TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THEIR FAMILIES WHILE ALSO GIVING THEM PEACE OF MIND.

EVERYONE'S REALLY CONFUSED.

AND A LOT OF TIMES THERE ISN'T A BLACK OR WHITE ANSWER, SOMETIMES THERE IS MORE GRAY AREA.

SO THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO HAPPEN FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND MANY, MANY GENERATIONS.

WE CAN'T JUST SAY, "ALL RIGHT, IT'S FIXED."

WE HAVE TO CONTINUE THAT DIALOGUE.

>>WILKINE, LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

WE'VE TALKED ON NEWSNIGHT BEFORE ABOUT COMPLAINTS FROM THE BLACK COMMUNITY, THAT THEIR MEDICAL CONCERNS ARE OFTEN MINIMIZED IN THE MEDICAL SYSTEM WITH SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS AROUND RACE.

AND FROM YOUR REPORTING, I'M WONDERING IF THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN SAY SIMILARLY ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH?

IS THERE A DISPARITY THERE, DO YOU THINK?

>>YEAH.

SO I SPOKE TO DR. JASON PRENDERGAST AT FLORIDA MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY, AND HE SAYS, "CULTURAL MAINSTREAM HAS THIS PROPENSITY TO LOOK AT BLACK INDIVIDUALS, MEN AND WOMEN ON VARIOUS LEVELS, AS ONLY BEING ANGRY OR UNCONTROLLABLE.

THERE ISN'T THIS IDEA OF ESTABLISHING MENTAL HEALTH LANGUAGE THAT APPLIES TO BLACK INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE GOING THROUGH PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS."

AND SO HE FEELS AS THOUGH WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, THAT BLACK INDIVIDUALS AREN'T INCLUDED IN THE GRAND NARRATIVE.

AREN'T INCLUDED IN THE SORT OF BROAD DISCUSSION SURROUNDING MENTAL HEALTH.

AND SO HE WANTS TO CHANGE THAT.

BUT AGAIN, THERE ARE A LOT OF SILVER LININGS.

ONE MAJOR SILVER LINING IS THAT YOUNG MILLENNIALS ARE DISCUSSING MENTAL HEALTH FAR MORE THAN THE PREVIOUS GENERATION.

THEY ARE ACQUIRING THE ACTUAL LANGUAGE.

SO IF THEY FEEL AS THOUGH THEY ARE EXPERIENCING LEVELS OF ANXIETY, THEY'LL ACTUALLY SAY, "HEY, LOOK, I'M EXPERIENCING A LEVEL OF ANXIETY RIGHT NOW, AND I NEED HELP."

>>CASSANDRA, I SAW YOU NODDING THERE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>>I AGREE A HUNDRED PERCENT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE NOTICED IS WHEN I HAVE A STUDENT THAT'S REFERRED TO ME, WHEN THEY COME IN THEY'RE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THEIR SYMPTOMS IN MUCH MORE CLEAR WAYS.

THEY'RE ABLE TO SAY, "I'VE DONE MY RESEARCH.

I THINK I HAVE ANXIETY.

I'M LOOKING FOR A DIAGNOSIS.

HOW CAN I GO ABOUT ACCOMPLISHING THAT?"

AND SO I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY FANTASTIC.

I THINK THAT WHEN WE INCREASE AWARENESS, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO MENTAL HEALTH, SOMETIMES IT CAN BE A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD WHERE THERE'S NEGATIVE SIDE EFFECTS AND THERE'S POSITIVE SIDE EFFECTS.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I CAN SAY IS I'VE SEEN A LOT MORE PEOPLE DO THE WORK TO DO THE RESEARCH TO FIGURE THINGS OUT FOR THEMSELVES AND SEEK THE HELP OF A PROFESSIONAL ON TOP OF THAT.

>>THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR JOINING US WITH YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND CONTRIBUTION TO HELPING THE YOUNGEST MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

REALLY APPRECIATE IT, THANKS.

WITH ALL THE STRESS AND ANXIETY OF THE PAST YEAR, WE'VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR THAT LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.

THAT HOPE THAT WE CAN RETURN TO A PRE PANDEMIC WAY OF LIFE.

BUT NOW AFTER MONTHS OF WORKING FROM HOME, ISOLATION SEPARATION FROM FRIENDS AND FAMILY, HOW WILL WE COPE WITH THAT TRANSITION BACK TO EXACTLY WHAT WE'VE BEEN MISSING?

WELL, JOINING ME TO DISCUSS THE ANXIETY OF RE-ENTRY IS PSYCHIATRIST AND AUTHOR, DR. RICHA BHATIA.

THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING WITH ME TODAY, DR. BHATIA, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

AS I SAID, WE'VE ALL BEEN ITCHING TO GET BACK TO WHAT WE CALL QUOTE, UNQUOTE, NORMAL LIFE.

AND YET THERE IS REAL ANXIETY RELATED TO RE-ENTRY.

WHERE DOES THAT COME FROM DO YOU THINK?

>>THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

FIRST OF ALL, ANXIETY IS NORMAL IN A PANDEMIC.

AS YOU KNOW, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN STAYING AT HOME AND WORKING FROM HOME IN THE LAST YEAR.

SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE BECOME HABITUATED TO THIS NEW WAY OF LIFE.

FOR MANY PEOPLE, IT STARTED TO FEEL COMFORTABLE AND A SAFE SPACE TO BE AT HOME.

SO NOW, AS RESTRICTIONS ARE GRADUALLY BEING RELAXED IN VARIOUS PLACES, MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPECTING AND EXPERIENCING SOME ANXIETY AS THEY CONTEMPLATE RETURNING TO THEIR PREVIOUS WORK OR SOCIAL ENVIRONMENTS.

AND PART OF THE REASON BEHIND THIS IS THAT THE PANDEMIC HASN'T ENDED YET.

AND SOME PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE RISK OF ACQUIRING COVID-19.

OTHER PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT HOW THEY READJUST BACK SOCIALLY AND CHANGE THEIR ROUTINES ALL OVER AGAIN.

ESPECIALLY AS THIS IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER TRANSITION IN A RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD OF A YEAR.

>>WELL WHAT ARE SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU HAVE AS WE START TO EMERGE FROM BEHIND OUR MASKS AND CLOSED DOORS TO SORT OF HELP REDUCE THAT ANXIETY?

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT THAT AT THE MOMENT.

>>SO FIRST OF ALL, IT'S IMPORTANT TO FOLLOW YOUR LOCAL GUIDELINES AND CDC GUIDELINES.

AND THEN IN GENERAL, TAKING A GRADUAL APPROACH RATHER THAN RUSHING INTO THINGS ALL AT ONCE IS BETTER.

IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT NOT TO PRESSURIZE YOURSELF OR COMPARE WITH OTHERS IN THE PROCESS.

A USEFUL TOOL CAN BE MINDFULNESS PRACTICE, WHICH INVOLVES PRACTICING BEING IN THE PRESENT MOMENT IN A NON-JUDGEMENTAL WAY.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF RESOURCES FOR MINDFULNESS ONLINE.

ANOTHER TIP CAN BE RECOGNIZING WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL AND WHAT YOU CANNOT CONTROL THAT CAN HELP LOWER ANXIETY.

ALSO JOURNALING, WHICH INVOLVES WRITING DOWN YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS CAN BE HELPFUL.

NOW, EVERY INDIVIDUAL SITUATION IS UNIQUE.

SO IF YOU SUSPECT THAT YOUR ANXIETY IS IMPACTING YOUR FUNCTIONING, THEN YOU SHOULD CONSULT WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN.

>>DR.

BHATIA THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR INSIGHT ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE APPRECIATE IT.

AND THAT'LL DO IT FOR THIS NEWSNIGHT CONVERSATION SPECIAL.

AS WE'VE MENTIONED, DUE TO TIME CONSTRAINTS, WE'VE PRESENTED A SLICE OF OUR PANEL DISCUSSIONS IN THIS PROGRAM, AND YOU CAN WATCH THE FULL CONVERSATIONS ALONG WITH LINKS TO RESOURCES THAT ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS AT OUR WEBSITE WUCF.ORG/CONVERSATIONS.

ON BEHALF OF OUR ENTIRE TEAM, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK RIGHT HERE FOR NEWSNIGHT.