Deerfield Community Center volunteers (from left) Russ Peacock, Greg Frutiger and Phil Montalto recently help pack food pantry Christmas baskets.Karyn Saemann
A deepening web of Covid-19 stressors may now be tipping more people toward mental health crisis, say local organizations that offer help with everyday needs and local counselors whose job is to assess how weâre doing psychologically.
As 2020 ends, financial ruin is everywhere: job losses, surging reliance on food pantries and meal sites, housing loss, business failures and mounting unpaid utility, medical and other bills.
People remain isolated. Many are grieving. Others are angry about the national election, still reeling from summer racial equity protests, and devastated by the cancellation of travel and holiday celebrations.