As COVID-19's second wave infected thousands of New Jersey residents last winter, Ann found it increasingly hard to get out of bed.
Employed at an assisted-living facility, she worried that the virus would again spread through nursing homes, as it did during spring a year ago, and that she would be stricken.
In mid-January though, Ann — she asked that her full name not be used to protect her privacy — recognized that while she had been spared COVID-19 she was exhibiting signs of a more common ailment: depression.
"I'd worked a couple double shifts one particular week, and when my day off rolled around, I found that I had to force myself out of bed," said Ann. "When I thought about it, I realized that I was forcing myself to do basic things, like shower, make the bed, etc., for a few weeks at that point."