Despite the attempts made to address the effects of mental health in North Dakota,
minorities continue to suffer in silence. Eight regional human services centers open throughout the state of North Dakota are overwhelmed by new cases. Following the outbreak of COVID-19, the surge in mental health issues skyrocketed something that surprised many. CRISIS HELP for North Dakotans struggling with the illness and Brochure - Services to help individuals with persistent behavioral health disorders and few other programs were put forth to curve the effects of mental disorders.
Pandemic preventive measures like self-distancing, isolation, and shutdown of public gathering places have increased the risk of committing suicide among the youth with mental illness. Mental health cases have doubled in minority communities throughout the Fargo-Moorhead area Since COVID-19 outbreak. According to health experts mental health disorder is caused by toxic environment, childhood trauma, stress events, drugs, and alcohol. Prior memories of war trauma among refugees, financial breakdown, and social isolation seem to be major causes in this communities.
Abrupt change of moods, inability to interact with people, and decline in thinking ability are few signs and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Diagnosing the trend is an important step since it doesn’t require complicated use of microscope lenses. Some of the symptoms are widely visible and can be noticed by friends or family members.
North Dakota pays mental health providers to perform essential services like therapy, advising, and counseling tailored toward treatment. These help services are made readily available by the state to assist those suffering from the illness. Please don’t hesitate to grab the opportunity. Be on top to regularly refile your anxiety and depression medications which provide relieve as well as reduction of pain.
Trust values in some communities push people away and eventually make them choose to remain self-centered. Perhaps, they grew skeptical about who they should share their health information with. Not everyone that is reckless, but there are those bad apples who ruined the trust. Secondly, no one wants to look like they are “crazy”. They want to look “normal”. If they can do what a “normal” person can do, they would do that until it escalates. More importantly, the shortages of mental health providers in the state has negatively impacted the livelihood of those with mental disorders.
To curve the impacts of mental health in our local communities, New American Consortium encourages members to utilize the opportunities available. Our team of trained case workers are delegated to work with youth and adults who may be affected to connect them to the resources they need. We ensure you that you are not alone and will continue to provide mentorship and support where its needed.
To reduce on isolation effects, we invite members of our community to attend activities at “WECENTER” New American Consortium every weekend. For more information visit www.newamericanconsortium.org. So, don’t be trapped inside anymore, step out of your comfort zone to come, and have fun or chat with friends.
Additional resources you or someone you know may want to use when in crisis.
CRISIS HELP for all North Dakotans in need (includes 2-1-1, mobile response and walk-in services)
· Brochure - Services to help individuals with persistent behavioral health disorders (August 2021)
· Field Services Client Handbook (Handbook for clients served by the regional human service centers, North Dakota State Hospital and Life Skills and Transition Center)
· Sliding Fee Scale (125kb pdf)
By Malak Geu, March 18, 2022.