Don’t let anyone in anguish, isolation suffer alone | Opinion

Over the past several months, I’ve openly and extensively discussed my brother Pedro’s lifelong battles with serious mental-health issues until his passing a year and a half ago.

It was not only an incredible struggle for him, but for our family as well. From that time, there were three things that really stayed with me.

The first is how pervasive and serious this issue is in Miami-Dade County.

Second, how incredibly difficult it is to access proper medical care.

And third, how the stigma around mental health kept my parents silent about it for so many years.

As a result, I decided to speak up and make it a major focus for our community.

Since I began elevating this conversation, our reality has changed in radical ways. Stay-at-home orders, school cancellations, job loss, social distancing, isolation and the uncertainty about our future have made the coronavirus crisis the perfect storm for exasperating this problem.

If I learned anything from caring for my brother, it is that any preventive or early measure that can be taken is always more effective and less costly than managing a crisis. Therefore, our time to act is now.

It is imperative that we provide additional mental-health support programs to our front line – nurses, firefighters, police, transit operators and educators, among others, who working day and night to keep us safe and keep our communities moving forward.

Teachers, in particular, have had to make some significant adjustments in order to provide a virtual-learning environment for our children, with many of them actually working harder and longer hours. than ever before while also tending to their own families and needs.

As such, it is important that we encourage our front line to take care of themselves, too. Providing coping tools such as one-on-one employee counseling services or a 24/7 mental-healthcare hot line for emergency care can help mitigate the negative impact this crisis could have in the long run.

While there are those who are more vulnerable during these times, like first responders or those with underlying issues, like my brother Pedro, there are also many who will face mental-health issues for the very first time in their lives because of this pandemic.

The unfamiliarity of these symptoms, coupled with the ongoing stigma related to mental health, will cause many to not seek professional help. , further exasperating an already growing problem.

Globally, experts have already watched how stay-at-home orders have amplified the number of cases of domestic violence and child abuse. Such incidents have increased by more than an alarming 30 percent. which means that for some, Access to these resources could mean the difference between life and death.

We quickly need a public-education campaign that heightens awareness around the impact of COVID-19 on mental health and provides residents with access to a list of resources they can tap into, should they need to seek help.

The good news is that in sharing this common experience we are also given the opportunity to help and care for each other. This means remembering that we are all struggling and adjusting to our new environment in different ways. It is important to practice compassion, including with our families, our neighbors and more importantly, with ourselves.

Everyone can do their part to help. If you know someone who is lonely, elderly or ill, reach out to them. If you haven’t talked to a family member or friend in some time, give them a call. If you know a caretaker, healthcare worker or first responder who is on the front line of this crisis, show your appreciation.

And if you, yourself, are struggling with anxiety or depression or are in danger during this time, please, reach out for help.

Alex Penelas was Miami-Dade County mayor from 1996 to 2004. He currently is running again for the office.