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The COVID-19 pandemic has doubled the number of calls to a Chicago nonprofit, to 300 a week, from people seeking help with mental health crises.
And the fallout from the pandemic lockdown will require long-term soul-searching. That recognition underpins the month of May’s recognition as Mental Health Awareness Month, and its timeliness is prescient.
“We’re dealing with chronic, long-term stress,” said Ben Frank, chief wellness officer for the National Alliance on Mental Illness Chicago, which operates a helpline to aid people in getting help, finding a healthcare provider and figuring out insurance coverage.
“You don’t just finish a period of time like this without asking, ‘What does it mean to return to normal?’ ” Frank said. “We all need support in the midst of this.”