Half a decade since COVID-19 heralded a health crisis upending life across not only Central Florida but also the world, its prevailing legacy is actually one of decreasing the stigma around seeking support and treatment.

The five years since the dawn of COVID have brought with them a combination of lingering disruptions, new challenges and, of course, a suite of updated approaches comprising “the new normal” that inevitably follows a seismic societal shift.

Among those niches that saw sweeping changes to longstanding practices is the area of mental health. As the early days of the pandemic were, for many, steeped in stress and sadness brought about by the likes of isolation, uncertainty and the absence of familiar safety nets, the professionals in that space saw a rush of therapy newcomers seeking treatment to navigate those unprecedented times stretching out before them indefinitely.

For some, the loneliness of lockdown and suddenly finding favorite hobbies or destinations off limits put a seemingly insurmountable wall between them and the escapes that previously served as an outlet benefiting their mental well-being; for others, fear of sickness, knowing that loved ones were alone in a hospital or worrying about an unclear future pushed them into a headspace that was as unsettlingly unfamiliar as the socially distanced world suddenly cordoned off behind Plexiglas separates.

Central Florida had its own unique challenges, as its myriad customer-service professionals were suddenly unsure of their financial futures as theme parks and other businesses that rely heavily on tourism and visitors’ economic infusion saw plummeting numbers of both guests and their subsequent spending—a trend that one professional in the mental health space told Orlando Family Magazine collided with the opioid crisis to further exacerbate residents’ struggles in a time punctuated by new obstacles to optimal mental wellness.

We spoke to a trio of professionals entrenched in the area of mental health to discuss just how stressful those early days of COVID were on Central Florida, how an international health crisis has had a lasting impact on the accessibility of mental-health treatment and resources, and the silver lining of people suddenly realizing that it’s never too late to ask for help that’s always within reach.

Five years after the advent of COVID, how has it impacted mental health awareness and treatment?
“The pandemic brought mental health into the spotlight in a way we hadn’t seen before. As a society, we faced the uncertainty and challenges of COVID together, which helped normalize the need for emotional support and reduce the stigma around seeking professional help. Technology evolved quickly, and telehealth options allowed us to continue seeing patients while ensuring their confidentiality and privacy. Even though we’ve returned to in-person sessions, the increased value placed on mental health care as a result of the pandemic has endured.”
—Dr. Amy Cuccuro, licensed psychologist, Psychological Affiliates, Inc.

What kind of misconceptions about mental health services have you had to correct over the past five years, especially as people who never saw themselves as patients finally asked for help?
“The biggest misconception is that mental health only impacts one in five people. We use a Trauma Informed Care approach to bring awareness that mental health lives on a continuum and all of us go through experiences that challenge our mental and emotional well-being.

“Most people do not think they would ever seek treatment outside of medical assistance for adverse events; however, everyone goes through challenges that may leave them feeling stuck and isolated. For those clients who have reached out to ask for help, I believe the help they have received has been awaking and life-changing.”
—Elyse Brandeberry, LMHC, COO, Central Florida Behavioral Hospital

What unique challenges did Central Florida experience during the pandemic that additionally impacted the mental health of that population?
“During that time of the stay-at-home mandates, we were starting to fight the opioid epidemic. All that happened at the same time, so that also then compounded the question of how do we continue to address that, how do we work through that [in terms of] mental health and substance use? The service community at large really made a huge effort to advertise available resources: There were radio ads, there were billboards, there was all the social media—which showed how we started to reach the younger population. We have a full campaign on mental health and substance use targeting your elementary, your middle, your high school, your young college students, people up to 24 [years old] to make sure that they’re aware that they’re not alone and that there’s adults they can talk to. … We know that young adults and teenagers really need to hear that, so that’s something that we kept and we continue to push.”
—Maria Bledsoe, CEO, Central Florida Cares Health System

Did the wave of mental health crises that the pandemic triggered create a lasting change in how you deliver client support?
“Yes, we had to become more flexible and adaptive to support our existing and new patients. Our practice incorporated hybrid options, ensuring clients could access care even when in-person sessions weren’t feasible; however, for many clients, we eventually recommended returning to in-person therapy, particularly for children, as it allows for a more interactive and engaging therapeutic process.

“We also saw a greater need for psychoeducation—helping families understand the emotional impact of a new type of stress and uncertainty. I’ve worked with many parents who wanted to better support their children but didn’t know where to start, so part of our work has been providing them with tools and strategies to help their children navigate these challenges.”
—Dr. Amy Cuccuro

How do you tailor your approach to work with clients as you help them both process and move beyond the root of their concerns?
“We try to teach our patients techniques on how to keep themselves mentally and emotionally healthy: Just as we have a gym for the body, there are exercises that can be used to keep our brains healthy. We will all face adverse events in our lives, so preparing ourselves on how to work through these obstacles and rewiring how we perceive these events helps us remain mentally and emotionally healthy.”
—Elyse Brandeberry

How did that uptick of people seeking help demonstrate that it’s never too late to benefit from mental health services?
“It supports what I like to say: Hope always begins with taking that first step. That is key. There’s a lot of campaigns around awareness, breaking down the stigma, so people are a lot more open to being part of groups and accessing services because so much has been done to eliminate that stigma around mental health. When people hear that they’re not alone, their journey from there gets a lot easier because you have that support. … My advice would be that you shouldn’t hesitate to reach out and ask for help if you’re questioning it. If you feel it in your gut that it’s time to seek professional support, that’s a great indicator of the direction you should be moving towards.”
—Maria Bledsoe

RESOURCES
Central Florida Behavioral Hospital
Orlando
(407) 264-7556
CentralFloridaBehavioral.com

Central Florida Cares Health System
Orlando
(407) 985-3560
CentralFloridaCares.org

Psychological Affiliates, Inc.
Winter Park
(407) 740-6838
PsychologicalAffiliates.com