August 13, 2020 – In Marion County, West Virginia, a recent surge in emergency calls was not entirely due to COVID-19. May 2020 saw twice the number of drug overdose calls as May 2019. Emergency responders were quick to point out that substance abuse and misuse does not happen in a vacuum, and the surge in overdoses went hand in hand with the dismantling of rehabilitation centers and mental health care providers in the area.
Now, first responders face the additional risk of exposure to COVID-19, compounding the toll on their mental health. “One paramedic admitted that the constant exposure to death both in its most gruesome and tranquil forms impacts everyone who works in emergency services, and it can take a constant effort to remind themselves to remain human on the job.”
