More than 2 in 5 adults in the U.S. report that they are battling mental or behavioral health issues as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic1. Between stay-at-home orders, social isolation, unemployment or dealing with a rapid shift to a new routine and fear and anxiety over what’s to come, the mental health risks are just as concerning as the physical health risks we’re facing today.
When we talk about health equity, we often focus on the existing disparities in physical health outcomes and access to care and overlook the urgent need to address mental health inequities. In this exclusive Q&A, Dr. Jessica Isom discusses health equity as it relates to mental health and what organizations can do to combat structural racism to improve the health of all populations.
Jessica Isom, MD, MPH, is a board-certified community psychiatrist and clinical Instructor in the Yale Department of Psychiatry. She currently serves as a member of the American Psychiatric Association Assembly representing Early Career Psychiatrists, where her contributions center on illuminating the need for health equity in organized psychiatry. Virgin Pulse is so excited to have Dr. Isom as the newest member of the Science Advisory Board.
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