With a rising unemployment rate, a drastic change in the way normal Americans live their lives, and a mandate not to go outside unless necessary, experts believe that a mental health crisis may be looming in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

And Congressman Josh Harder is doing everything he can to make sure that his constituents are taken care of during these uncertain times.

On Thursday, Harder requested that the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration provide immediate assistance to the Central Valley – asking for a piece of the $425 million already appropriated by congress to assist in local mental and behavioral health services that has not yet made its way into local operating budgets. “I’ve heard from a lot of people who are really struggling through this and don’t have their normal support systems in place,” Harder said. “We need to make sure this funding is coming here to the Central Valley – we’ve already seen the terrible effects of mental health issues here, and we need help.”  

While the overall crime rate throughout the area is down – law enforcement officials say that because most people are home during the day now, crimes of opportunity have become scarce – concerns have risen that specific types of crimes and behavioral issues, like domestic violence and attempted suicide, are on the verge of exploding.

While domestic violence incidents have not increased yet in the South County according to law enforcement officials in Manteca, Ripon, or Lathrop, officers are prepared for the possibility.

Just this week local officials were left scrambling to try and figure out what to do with a number of people awaiting trial at the San Joaquin County Jail who met the criteria to be released – people that according to Sheriff Pat Withrow will now be without access to the kinds of services that they could benefit from, like drug treatment and appointments with mental health experts.

If Harder’s request of the federal government were approved, the funding could provide some of the resources that local officials have been trying to figure out during the pandemic that has forced many in-person government offices to close. “During a time of mandatory quarantines and the increased levels of anxiety, fear, and isolation, Americans must have clear and unencumbered access to mental health sources,” Harder wrote in his letter to the federal government.

“Many communities across the country, including those in my District, are experiencing the somber mental health effects of this pandemic: Central Valley suicide hotlines are surging with reports of attempted suicides; while overall crime is declining, domestic violence is growing due to more time spent with aggressors; social distancing is causing setbacks for some veterans coping with depression or Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); and seniors who are alone or young students who were on track to graduate and whose dreams have been crushed, this pandemic is igniting fear, anxiety, and depression.”

To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.