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Medical professionals worry about mental health during and after pandemic

Posted at 10:09 PM, Apr 20, 2020
and last updated 2020-04-23 12:22:34-04

Medical professionals are worried about a spike in mental health illnesses after the coronavirus pandemic passes.

Mental health was the topic of discussion at Monday night's Medical College of Wisconsin's Community Town Hall held online. Participants were able to ask questions of the assembled medical and mental health professionals.

Dr. Erica Arrington said issues like Depression, Anxiety, Substance Abuse, Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, and even PTSD are concerns once the pandemic subsides.

"I think mental health in general needs to be prepared for all these and other diagnoses as well," said Arrington, an associate professor of Psychiatry at The Medical College of Wisconsin.

Psychologist Dr. Kweku Ramel Smith said he worries about those in the middle of it all.

"We want to make sure that we have extra support for those that have been on the front lines. Because when we talk about post-traumatic stress disorder, I think we're going to see that increase in those professionals who have served us so bravely at this point," said Smith.

The college will host another webinar next week where the public is invited to ask questions. You can find out more here.

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