In Our View: Caring for mental health also vital in pandemic The Columbian Share: It’s time to check in — just a friendly reminder that we are all in this together. As the coronavirus pandemic nears one year of economic shutdowns and social distancing and public health concerns, we are reminded of one of the biggest victims of COVID-19 — our mental health. Even as coronavirus vaccines are distributed and many Clark County residents find some sense of relief in receiving inoculations, the stress of the pandemic continues to linger. As Kristen Willeumier wrote this week for Psychology Today: “While quarantine and social distancing have been necessary to prevent the virus from spreading, the adverse health effects can bring up feelings of loneliness, which can profoundly impact our mental health and well-being.” She notes that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say social isolation can increase vulnerability to dementia by as much as 50 percent.