All posts by Kate Woods, Correspondent

Opinion

The Isolation impact: Quarantine’s effects on mental health

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The monotonous infinity of days passing, a lack of social and physical contact, all while having remote access to any substance you could possibly want to purchase. During the pandemic, about 4 in 10 adults in the U.S. have reported symptoms of anxiety, depression, and trauma, with many reporting specific negative impacts on their mental and physical health, such as difficulty sleeping and eating, increases in alcohol consumption and substance use, and worsening chronic conditions.

During the current global situation, both children and adults are experiencing a mix of emotions. They have been placed in situations and/or environments that are new and scary, which can be potentially damaging to their health. Many blame job insecurity and removal from social settings for the increase in depression and anxiety, while others say that fear of catching COVID-19, and being cooped up in the house with your family without taking any time for yourself is to blame.

One group that is struggling with mental health issues but is constantly overlooked are first responders and health-care workers.

With the rate of physician suicide being nearly double that of the general population, doctors and nurses have to deal with all of the same burdens that everyone is, all while taking care of those sick and dying.

They are dealing with high amounts of stress at due to a surplus of patients, understaffing, and high patient mortality, as well as everyday stressors such as the fear of contracting and spreading COVID, inability to see family members and friends, lack of sleep, and malnutrition. While many have sought out treatment, there are still a large number who refuse to due to fear that the stigma around mental health issues will ruin their careers.

Some ways to deal with the stress of the pandemic are taking breaks to unwind, practicing a hobby, listening to music, working out at home or outdoors, connecting with family and friends over Zoom/Skype, and maintaining a consistent sleep schedule.

If you are experiencing symptoms of stress, depression, and/or PTSD, there are many resources at your disposal such as, www.samhsa.gov, www.mentalhealth.gov, www.nimh.nih.gov, and many others. If you are contemplating suicide, please visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org and use the webchat feature, call 800-273-8255, or visit afsp.org to find a local support group and/or therapist.

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Pandemic pregnancy: The pressures of parenthood

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Because there is still so much that we do not know about COVID-19, we are unsure of some of the effects that it can have on a developing child.

What we do know is that COVID-19 is uncommon in newborns born to mothers who had tested positive for COVID-19 during pregnancy, and while some newborns have tested positive for COVID-19 shortly after birth, it is unknown if they got the virus before, during, or after birth.

Pregnant women often bear the brunt of limited health resources, and past epidemics have shown that it makes pregnant women and babies that much more vulnerable. It is harder for women to access health-care facilities due to increased physical and financial barriers, as well as fear of contracting infection. Women who were unable to access family planning, were more likely to give birth at home — which is riskier for both mother and child.

One mother, Emerald Medina, who gave birth to her first child in August of 2020 shared her experience: “Having my daughter Phoenix during the midst of a pandemic was very bittersweet to say the least,” she said. “I was not able to do much while pregnant because that was when COVID-19 got out of control, but it was a blessing in disguise, as I was able to rest most of my pregnancy. I was laid off in March 2020 from my waitressing job and I was 3 months pregnant at the time. I barely went out during COVID and when I did, I was very cautious. Once it came time to go to the hospital and bring her into the world, it was nice to just have me and my boyfriend Travis there with no visitors interrupting. Having a baby was brand new and very stressful for both of us and it was calming knowing that nobody was going to pop in on us while we were adjusting in the hospital.”

Medina also shared the effects that having a child during a pandemic can have on one’s mental health.

“Phoenix is now almost 8 months old, and if I am being completely honest, raising a child during a pandemic is very isolating. I am now a stay-at-home mom and barely leave my house,” she said. “I was collecting unemployment until very recently which has made me start looking for a waitressing job at night, since Travis works first shift, and daycare is very expensive, plus, in the middle of a pandemic, I do not feel comfortable sending her off with people I do not know all day. Depression has been eating me alive because I am unable to take my daughter out to places because I am too worried about her or me getting sick. The same goes for my friends who have had their kids around the same time as me, everyone wants to get together with the babies, but everyone has that worry about the virus. Even though COVID has made things a lot harder and more stressful, having my daughter during a pandemic was the best thing that could have ever happened to me.”

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A year in a pandemic: How it has affected those with chronic illness.

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It has been year since the World Health Organization declared SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19/The Coronavirus, a global pandemic. Since then, more than 118 million people have been infected worldwide, and 2.7 million have died. One of the groups of people that have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, whether because of a COVID-19 diagnosis, or because of the restrictions put in place, are those who are chronically ill/disabled. Whether it is because of telehealth shortcomings, pain/quality of life treatments being delayed, or the very real fear of catching COVID-19, people in need of regular “maintenance” health care to manage their conditions feel discarded.

Mira Krishnaswamy, a 20-year-old with a chronic illness, said about the pandemic, “I was diagnosed before the pandemic started, so it was really difficult for me, at age of 19, having to go to the cancer center by myself and having to go through every single medical step with nobody by my side to support me, as the pandemic made it so nobody could go into the hospital with you. It was also really isolating because it broke my heart to see so many of the people I used to call “friends” not listening to the CDC and going out and partying. Because I am chronically ill, I am immunocompromised which meant that this pandemic literally threatened my life every single day. I could not leave my house for fear of my life. Seeing “friends” partying or not caring about the pandemic felt like a knife to the back because their actions can directly kill me. It essentially meant that they did not really care if I lived or died.” Krishnaswamy also spoke about how the “stay-at-home” order affected her mental and physical health, “Because of the pandemic all medical services were shut down for a while. This was horrible because I was doing upwards of 10 medical appointments a week. This was hard on my body mentally and physically because I was unable to get the medical care I needed for my chronic diseases for months at a time. I was literally bed ridden. I have ended most of my friendships with people that did not take the pandemic seriously because it was clear to me that they did not care about anyone other than themselves and did not care for my health or the health of others who cannot control their bodies. I also had to move mid-pandemic because I had spent the first half of the pandemic stuck in the house with an abusive step- parent. I do not think people understand how horrible it is to be stuck self-quarantined with an abuser.”

Mackenzie Lea, a 23-year-old from Alberta, Canada spoke about being chronically ill, and dealing with the randomness  of Trigeminal Neuralgia pain before and during the pandemic, “I am no stranger to isolation and unpredictability. Being chronically ill, my life has been upended a number of times. I have spent the last 7 years of my life locked away indoors, avoiding some of life’s greatest offers, as they stand a chance of causing me excruciating pain. I have missed out on work, school, time with friends and family, and events that I have really looked forward to. The terrifying truth is, I never know when I am going to be in pain. There are days where I can handle multiple tasks and there are days where I am completely bed bound. There is never a guarantee of being able to do things that I have been planning to do for months. When I try a new treatment, there is no guarantee that it will work or that it will not cause me to have debilitating side effects. That kind of isolation and unpredictability is devastating, and it takes an enormous toll on your mental health. When COVID-19 hit, I was undoubtedly fearful, but I also felt prepared. Lockdown is like how I have been living for years and as an optimistic person, I was actually hoping that this would foster empathy for the disabled experience. I was excited to give people tips on how to navigate isolation and unpredictability. For the first few months, life did not feel all that different. I was going out less than I usually did, but I felt more connected. With everyone locked down and programs like Zoom coming into popularity, the ability to connect became easier for me. I was talking to friends and family more than I had in years. Delivery services became more efficient, and many stores adopted hours where vulnerable people could safely come and shop. Workplaces and online school accommodations came about, and the world felt more accessible and approachable. However, as happy as I felt about all of this, it was also a bit angering. I am not the type of person that is going to complain about these immense strides, but disabled people have been asking for these accessible options for years. I left school and work because they could not accommodate me and it’s frustrating to realize that it was actually quite a simple fix and just a lack of effort.”

Mackenzie also talked about how her treatments have been affected by COVID-19, “As time has gone on, I have definitely started experiencing a decline in my mental health. People in my area are constantly protesting lockdowns and masks, our government is acting very slowly, and our numbers continually skyrocket. I do not feel safe anymore. I have heard so many people say things like, “if you’re scared or at risk, just stay home”, but that is not an option for me. I have to leave my house to go to medical appointments; I cannot get infusions at home and I have a port in my chest that requires maintenance. My specialist has temporarily switched to a Covid unit, so my care has been transferred to stand-in doctors and nurses that are not familiar with my rare disease. Delivery fees have become more expensive and being someone that is on a limited Disability budget, I cannot always afford to get things delivered. I have had to alter my already strict budget to include things like masks, gloves, and cleaning products, so I have no room for tips and extra fees. My pharmacy is running so low on one of my medications that I had to temporarily switch to something else. Not only did I have a reaction to the new medication, but it is also more expensive. I feel like I am simply surviving instead of living sometimes.”

While people living with chronic illness and disabilities are at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19, we also know from their stories that the pandemic has affected their mental health and their quality of care. For more information about chronic illnesses, and the COVID-19 pandemic, go to https://www.cdc.gov/ and/or https://www.hhs.gov/.

Opinion, Slider

State’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout not enough to quell disproportional number of positive cases in Lawrence

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Massachusetts vaccine distribution is categorized into three phases. Phase 1 is made up of front-line workers such as doctors, nurses, home health aides, long term care/assisted living facility residents and workers. Phase 2, which is where we are currently in the scheduled distribution, consists of groups who in numbered order will be eligible. In group 1, individuals aged 75 and older, then in group 2, individuals aged 65 and older, individuals with 2 or more known conditions, and residents and staff of low income and affordable senior housing. Group 3, who are not yet eligible for vaccination are all other workers, such as teachers, waitstaff, bus drivers, and state and city workers. Group 4 includes all other individuals with one certain medical condition. Phase 3 includes the general public and anyone else who did not qualify in earlier phases for vaccination.

According to The Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the total positive case number of 17,822 as of February 27. 2021, puts Lawrence with the highest positive case rate in the State of Massachusetts, clocking in at just over 7%. With only one public vaccination site in the city, a Lawrence General clinic at South Lawrence East Elementary, the site is tasked with the duty of administering vaccines not to only Lawrence residents, but to people from all over the county.

Even the new mayor Kendrys Vasquez said to a reporter when asked about the South Lawrence East clinic, that more vaccine sites need to be opened, and they need staffing.

Vasquez also said that the city has already hired 100 student workers and plans on hiring 30-35 nurses to staff the new sites once the city receives the state and federal finds to open them.

Those who have gotten their vaccine(s) at the South Lawrence East clinic describe it as being orderly and efficient, with immediate disinfection of chairs, handrails, clipboards, and pens after every patient.

Currently, the people who are the main contributors to Lawrence’s high positive test rates are not being actively vaccinated, because according to the Lawrence Board of Health, more than 10,000 of the positive cases are people under 30.

Even though people under 30 are the demographic with highest positive case number, there has only been 1 reported death within that age group, while people aged 60-99 make up 203 of the 224 total reported deaths.

This is because people under 30 assume that because they have no underlying conditions, and because they are young, that the virus will not affect them. This mentality can very quickly turn people into super spreaders because they are not as diligent when it comes to social distancing, proper mask wearing, and avoiding risky activities. Socializing venues and private parties run rampant within the city. While the young people play, and pretend that the virus does not exist, parents and grandparents suffer and die because of their children and grandchildren’s foolish behavior.

News

Federal government’s ninth execution of the year raises questions

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The Federal government’s ninth execution of the year, and the first federal execution in a lame-duck period in 130 years begs the question, Why?

Brandon Bernard’s execution on Dec. 10 marks the first execution during a presidential “lame-duck” period in 130 years. The execution was the first in a series of five executions scheduled before the transition of power on Jan. 20. If all five executions take place, President Trump will be the most prolific executioner ever with 13 federal executions in one year.

Alfred Zappala, an attorney and Lawrence native, said this, “The timing of this series of executions is purely coincidental. With just three federal executions between 1988 and 2019, Trump is only doing what he thinks is right, and that is upholding the sentence of the death penalty and executing the prisoners.”

Kathleen Holmes, a professor of Sociology at NECC, shared her expert opinion: “We are lucky that the lame duck period is much shorter now than it once was. The 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution established January 20 as Inauguration Day, moving it back from March 4. Many out-going presidents act in the interest of the country in the last days (the lame duck session) of their term. Reagan signed a nuclear disarmament treaty, Clinton balanced the budget, Dubya made some moves around the recession and Obama created a Pan-Asian trade agreement. However, today’s outgoing president is, let us just say, ‘different’ than the presidents most living Americans remember. His actions in his lame-duck session do not reflect an interest in the country’s future but instead seemingly reflect personal interest. He is pushing through five federal executions before January 20, 2021.

“There is no sociological theory that can explain the behavior. The death penalty, from a functionalist view, provides social cohesion on issues of ‘right vs wrong’ and establishes the rule of the government among other effects. From the conflict theorist’s view, the lame-duck period is an opportunity for outgoing politicians to create a legacy that maintains power for one group, while denying other groups access to power. The death penalty is the ultimate power held by a government and is most certainly a tool of oppression . This year-2020 — it has also been manipulated; executions took place during the height of social unrest — but they were ALL white. Now, three out of the four to be executed are black; the one woman is white, and she will be the first woman executed by the federal government since 1953.If all scheduled executions are carried out, the federal government will have executed more people than all states combined in 2020. Quite the legacy.”

Meredith Gunning, a professor of Philosophy and Ethics at NECC, said this: “During his lame duck period, I see President Trump using federal executions as a political ploy to make himself look like a law-and-order president. Some of this is political posturing but it comes at the cost of human lives. On the other hand, it is also well known that Trump himself is a strong advocate of capital punishment. This is ironic given that Trump claims to be a pro-life president. A pro-life position should not just apply to lives growing in a womb. Normally a lame duck President does not carry out any federal executions in deference to the incoming President. It could be argued that Trump is using this period to flout incumbent President Biden, given that the Democratic leader has publicized that he plans on working to advance the abolition of the death penalty. The details of the cases of some of the death row inmates slated to be executed should also raise alarm bells. Take Brandon Bernard, for instance, who was only 18 when he committed his crimes. Granted a young white married couple died because of his actions. But by all accounts, he was a truly changed person who was remorseful for the loss of life his actions inflicted. The warden along with many others, including five jurors in his original trial begged in vain for his life to be spared since he was a model prisoner who helped mentor young prisoners. He was doing more good alive than dead. Four black men are scheduled for executions. Given the prevalent problems of systemic racism in the American justice system, this ought to raise public outcry. One of those black men, Alfred Bourgeois, brutally murdered his two year old which is bound to get many riled up, wanting retribution. But evidence has surfaced that Bourgeois had an intellectual disability that was never presented to a court. This fact alone ought to show that he should no thave borne the most severe of penalties given his diminished rational capacities.

“Some of the other people being executed, including Lisa Montgomery, have records of mental illness which also ought to be considered as mitigating factors. Last but not least, why rush to have a number of Federal executions during a Pandemic? Is there not enough death already?”

 

Home Page News Bytes, Lawrence, News

Federal pandemic unemployment assistance to expire soon

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The discontinuance of the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance is set to leave many unemployed people without financial aid.

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) is a program under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act, which is a $2.2 trillion economic stimulus bill passed by U.S. Congress and signed into law on March 27, 2020 in response to the economic calamity due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.

The CARES Act, which created the PUA program, specifies that the last payable week of PUA benefits will be the week ending December 26, 2020. Even if you have a balance of PUA benefits, or owed weeks beyond December 26, these benefits cannot be paid after that date., meaning that by the end of December, more than 13 million unemployed people will be without financial aid.

Ian Shea, an NECC student said, “I think it’s sad that there’s even a debate about whether or not to help citizens in need. People need help right now. If citizens cannot afford their bills, their rent, their mortgage, or groceries, they will be out on the streets. If people cannot afford their own necessities, they are certainly not going to be able to spend money at local stores or restaurants and that hurts the entire community. There is a ripple effect and I wish more people opposing extending aid understood that.”

Jacqueline Dick, a professor of public health at NECC, gave her expert opinion on how the withholding of Federal PUA affect those in Lawrence both in the short term and long term, “The results will be multifaceted and have short and long term perhaps traumatic effects on the residents of Lawrence. Some of the things that come to mind are closing of small businesses, eviction and loss of housing, individuals going to work sick because they feel they have no choice. There will also be extra demands on Federal programs such as WIC and SNAP (Food Stamps). Losing jobs may lead to losing health insurance for some and as winter sets in more people will need fuel assistance – the list goes on. It will take a long time to recover from this socio economic loss and scarring will be deep.”

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Respiratory care professor, residents react to new COVID rules

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As Massachusetts COVID-19 cases rise, Governor Baker imposed a curfew and updated mask mandate as of Nov. 6.

The Department of Public Health made a statement on their website saying, “The Commonwealth’s COVID-19 related hospitalizations and COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) census have more than doubled over the past 2 months. Social gatherings are contributing to these increases. Left unchecked, the current COVID-19 case growth poses a risk to our healthcare system. Intervention is warranted to moderate case growth and preserve hospital capacity. It’s more important than ever to follow guidance from local, state, and federal officials on how to stop the spread of the virus.”

Donald Bellerive, a professor of Respiratory Care at NECC, said in an email conversation: “COVID is in charge, and while we may be tired of COVID, it is not tired of us. Lawrence has spent 12 weeks in the Red Zone as cases continue to rise not only here, but across the country.  Mayor Dan Rivera has issued an Emergency Order that is essential to saving lives confronting this extreme rise in person to person transmission. Many of my colleagues at UMass work in the COVID Unit and experience the pain, suffering & grief horrified by how this virus takes lives of all ages. There are faces to every COVID case that is unmatched in scale to anything we have ever seen. We can adjust to simple non-invasive interventions like curfews, a mask mandate and keeping our gatherings to 10 folks or less to mitigate the outbreak and reduce critical illness. We can be smart; it is painless and easy to keep ourselves and our families safe by doing the right thing which is what our students support every day.”

Elvis Acosta, a Lawrence resident and former NECC student, said in a conversation, “Personally I feel that another lockdown is way overdue. Lawrence has been in the red zone for more than 10 weeks; the cases just keep coming. I have noticed so many people do not take the fact that they must wear masks seriously, especially in fast food places and retail stores. A curfew can happen if we have a full lockdown, public places cannot remain open if the state expects everyone to make it home by 10 pm.”

Keva Samataro, a registered nurse who works at Lawrence General Hospital, shared her opinions, “My opinion as a nurse is that we should be wearing the masks to protect ourselves from those that refuse the masks. The 10pm curfew is something that I do not agree with. I mean does COVID-19 NOT come out before 10pm?! It is just going to make those people who break the rules more apt to have parties in their homes after 10pm. I think no large groups and safe face coverings is best, and hand washing, hand washing, hand washing.”

Features

Pandemic impacting mental and physical health

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It is no surprise that many people find the COVID-19 pandemic stressful both physically and mentally. The actions that we take to protect ourselves and others from the COVID virus, such as social distancing and stay-at-home orders can make you feel isolated, anxious, and scared.

Ian Shea, a student at NECC said, “The pandemic has been a challenge on all fronts. I had to cancel my gym membership because I wasn’t sure when they would reopen and if they’d be safe once they did open back up. I haven’t been as physically active as I was before this started.”

On his mental health and coping with the feelings of isolation and anxiety, he stated, “dealing with the pandemic has been very lonely. I don’t want to risk exposing my family or my friends so I’ve really limited how much I see people in person. No birthday parties or summer cookouts or anything. When I do see people, I try to keep it outdoors at a safe distance. I’ve known people who have died from COVID so it’s made me, I would say overly cautious. I don’t want to risk contracting the virus and I don’t want to unknowingly give it to anyone else. I think what’s been keeping me feel sane and not slip into depression is trying to constantly keep busy. Whether it’s work or school assignments or just binging TV shows and movies, I try to keep myself occupied so I don’t sit around worrying all the time.

“And even though I haven’t been able to see people in person as much as I normally would, I’ve been making an effort to connect through phone, text, and FaceTime. A couple weeks ago, I visited a friend I hadn’t seen in months. We stood in his driveway on opposite sides of the car and just talked, catching up.”

Even though everyone in the U.S is currently dealing with the pandemic and its effects, many people, including front line healthcare workers and mental health experts have put other’s needs above their own.

Gabriel Garcia, a Multi-Cultural Mental Health Clinician who works for the NECC Counseling Service said, “Students have shared with me how challenging the last several months have been, but also how they have continued to be successful through this hardship. Although this pandemic has isolated many of us, students have worked together with faculty and staff to create safe online classrooms/programs to grow. For example, creating study spaces in their homes, using the school’s online resources, and participating in online clubs. It has been very inspiring that even when facing new and challenging obstacles, students continue to adapt and prosper. One quote comes to mind and I hope it does not minimize the daily challenges that we are all facing. “Growth occurs when individuals confront problems, struggle to master them, and through that struggle develop new aspects of their skills, capacities, views about life.” – Carl Rogers, Ph.D.”

News

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s death imparts a sense of loss and apprehension in many people.

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On Sept.18, 2020 the nation suffered the loss of long time Justice of the Supreme Court, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who passed away due to complications from pancreatic cancer. Even before her appointment to the Supreme Court in 1993, Justice Ginsberg was a well-known advocate for gender equality and women’s rights, voting within the court to end gender discrimination, for women’s rights to body autonomy, and for the right for LGBTQ+ individuals to marry.

Upon hearing the news of her death, many people across the nation shared their fears that Justice Ginsberg’s legacy would be destroyed by the clear division of the nation, and a last-minute appointment before election day.

Darlene Hurley, the daughter of two NECC graduates, a Public Health Advisor and Healthcare Consultant, who met with Justice Ginsberg and attended multiple Supreme Court hearings said, “I think RBG’s death is a tremendous loss for all women in America. I think that RBG knew that it was important for women to have the ultimate say over their own bodies, and not the government, policy, or law.”  Regarding the nomination of a conservative Republican Justice before election day, she said “ I think that the possible replacement that is being put forth as President Trump’s nominee may very well change the landscape of a woman’s right to choose what she does with her own body. I do fear that because of that, we may backslide into a time where women with lower socioeconomic status may be most affected.”

On Sept. 26, eight days after Justice Ginsburg’s death, President Trump announced Judge Amy Coney Barrett as his nominee for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Since President Trump’s announcement of nomination, there has been backlash from Democratic party members and members of the public, all saying that the nomination is too close to the election.

Shane Rodriguez, a local attorney, and a professor at the Massachusetts School of Law, said “I have been following the Barrett nomination, and the rushing through of her confirmation, and I think that Barrett is the polar opposite of Ginsburg and her legacy. She opposes almost everything that Ginsburg believed in, and would significantly set back women’s rights, and LGBTQ+ rights.” On Barrett’s conservative stance and her lack of impartiality, he said “ She strongly opposes, and even goes on the record to say that she supports the recriminalization of homosexuality, as well as taking financial donations and supporting Alliance Defending Freedom, a group that supports the sterilization of transgender individuals so that they may not reproduce. She often brings her religion into her judicial decisions and because of her devout Catholicism and her conservative nature, she would very likely vote to overturn Roe v. Wade, which would get rid of a woman’s right to an abortion under any circumstance. She completely dismisses the separation of Church and State, and that is a danger to our democracy.”

In 2016, when Justice Antonin Scalia died, President Obama nominated Merrick Garland nine months before the election. Members of the Republican party said at that time that it was too close to the election to nominate and confirm a new Justice, and that the newly elected President should nominate the replacement. Now, the Republican party is saying the exact opposite, that an acting President is well within their right to nominate someone no matter how close it is to the election.  Joe Woods, an NECC alumnus, who attended Supreme Court hearings and got to see Justice Ginsburg in action in the late 90’s, said “I think that a Trump appointment of a replacement severely jeopardizes all of the gains made in women’s rights, as well as LGBTQ+ rights. Unfortunately, the President is within his legal right to make an appointment, though, when the Democratic party held the presidency in similar circumstances, the Republican party position stated that it was unfair to make an appointment so close to the election. Even though the Republican Party’s emblem is an elephant, the present Republican party seems to have a short memory, as they currently espouse a totally hypocritical stance.”