More than 40 percent, or 2 in 5, of U.S. residents report struggling with mental or behavioral health issues associated with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, according to a summer report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These results were based on a survey of U.S. adults aged 18 or older during June 24-30, 2020.

• 31 percent reported anxiety/depression symptoms
• 26 percent reported trauma/stressor-related disorder symptoms
• 13 percent started or increased substance abuse
• 11 percent seriously considered suicide

Industry experts say these numbers are continuing to rise.

“Finding Calm Amidst COVID-19 Panic,” a newly released book by R.M. Hedgcoth and the Lilac Center, offers dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) skills designed to improve lives through emotional control. It is available on Amazon in print and Kindle.

“We are seeing psychological and health effects related to the coronavirus that will last well beyond this generation,” says Amy Tibbitts, director of the Kansas City-based Lilac Center which specializes in comprehensive mental health treatment. “Self-care is so important right now. We must be systematic and proactive when it comes to regulating our own emotions to enable us to deal effectively with this new environment.”

Today, it is more critical than ever to take proactive steps to keep our own mental health in check.

About the Lilac Center
The Lilac Center is based in Kansas City, Missouri. Led by Director Amy Tibbitts, LSCSW, The Lilac Center serves clients of all ages through individual therapy, group therapy, intensive outpatient programs, and more. Amy and her trained staff of therapists have been providing Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) in a private practice setting since October of 2000. The Lilac Center professionals have extensive knowledge and experience in treating Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Delivered through a fundamental core of compassion, strength, and sensitivity, the Lilac Center’s approach to therapy is based upon DBT principles of mindfulness, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and emotion regulation.