“When the novel coronavirus roared into the U.S., mental health took a back seat to physical health. The number one priority was making sure hospitals wouldn’t be overwhelmed and that as many lives as possible could be saved.” (https://www.livescience.com/coronavirus-pandemic-mental-health-toll.html) This means that when the coronavirus started in the US, physical health was valued a lot more than mental health. But as Schools closed, remote work became the norm, restaurants shuttered, getting together with friends was no longer possible, news stories containing many coronavirus deaths, and unemployment levels soaring, people should realize that mental health during this pandemic is just as important as physical health. People might be worrying about making sure the most amount of lives can be saved right now, but sooner or later, people should also know that with all the things going on, mental health is just as important as physical health.
In 2020, research shows that people are 8 times as likely to screen positive for serious mental issues than compared to 2018, and “70% met criteria for moderate to serious mental illness, compared with 22% in 2018.” (https://www.livescience.com/coronavirus-pandemic-mental-health-toll.html)
Even though currently, physical health might seem more important than ever, you need to know that mental health is very important, too. There has been much more stress, with parents trying to care for their children at home. (because the children can’t be sent to camp) And young adults struggling to find new jobs after restaurants closed.
Having said that, even though at the start of the pandemic, physical health was the most important thing, now, as people are trying to get back to their regular lives, mental health is starting to regain it’s importance.