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Editor s note: This is the first in a series that looks at mental health issues during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), one in five adults in America experience mental illness.
Lori Krinsky, president of the NAMI Central Middlesex affiliate, said she has seen an uptick in demand for mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is an increase in the demand for mental health services from two groups: Those who had a diagnosis previous to the pandemic may be experiencing an acceleration of their symptoms and a tough time accessing their traditional supports or coping with new circumstances. Other people are experiencing anxiety or depression for the first time due to extreme changes in multiple factors in their environment that can become overwhelming, she said.