There’s no question that the COVID-19 emergency is getting on people’s nerves. They’re worried and often scared, uncertain of what will come next.

In a new GHN Commentary, Jack Bernard and Dr. Doug Skelton remind us that the psychological pressure we feel is understandable. Big disruptions in life cause stress, and you can’t just shrug off stress. People are grieving for the life they used to know.

Fortunately, as Bernard and Skelton note, most people can cope, creating new routines and living as normally as possible. But some, such as the newly jobless and workers “in harm’s way,” have stress levels that are much worse than the average.

Moreover, the two men write, “Individuals with serious mental illness may experience increases in symptoms” and need more care as the pandemic affects everyday life. And some with cognitive disorders may need help understanding what is going on. The current crisis has taught us the need for “extensive mental health planning” in the future, Bernard and Skelton write.

Here’s a link to their Commentary.