Some cities and towns cater to single people with ample entertainment, bars, restaurants, apartment buildings with multiple shared spaces, which lends to people staying out and about after work or on weekends. 

In crowded cities especially, someone single will likely keep costs down by having a smaller living space, and relying on access to more amenities available in public or shared spaces. Suddenly, losing valuable common areas, limits the single person to their smaller home, or studio apartment. 

Not only are the new restrictions limiting their access to shared areas, but there are less social interactions at work. Additionally the timeline has jumped from 2 weeks to 2 months or more of recommended social distancing, which was caught many off guard. 

It’s not surprising that the cumulative effect is increasing loneliness among those single or living alone. 

This new way of life does require new ways to socialize without increasing the risk of transmission of the virus. 

It’s a matter of finding resources to continue to socialize and to replace previous habits with new alternative activities.

Some recommendations include: 

Volunteering to tutor students, or offer other services online. This is a great way to meet new people but also have an added purpose to your time at home. 

Traditional phone calls may have been a “thing of the past” with the rampant use of social apps and texting, but hearing a familiar voice can help ease the lack of physical contact.

Scheduling facetime and group video chats with different groups in your life, like co-workers, friends, and family can be a great way to stay in touch and keep your social calendar full. Apps such as Houseparty, Facebook Messenger and Whatsapp are great ways to use a smart phone even if you do not have a laptop or computer at home.

Reading a book can be a great way to get to know someone else, even if it is a fictional or historical someone else. 

Trivia nights, and other usual group activities are being converted to online versions. Examples are, book clubs, happy hours, workout sessions, and group worship, etc.

Don’t forget that you can continue to see people in person but need to keep a 6 foot bubble between everyone, while avoiding touching things unnecessarily. Remember to wipe surfaces down afterwards as well.

It’s important to note, if loneliness is accompanied with issues of sleep, motivation, appetite or other depressive symptoms, then it’s time to reach out to a mental health professional like a therapist or psychiatrist for a video/online evaluation. Suicidal thoughts should always include calling a suicide prevention hotline, or calling 911.

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In regards to mental health services provided online, we often use the term telehealth. Telepsychiatry is another term, when the appointment or visit is with a Psychiatrist. Televisit may be another way the appointment with a therapist (someone that does not prescribe medications) may be described. Online visits incorporate the use of a video camera, a microphone, and speakers. Often computers have these already internally installed, or additional equipment can be purchased to plug into a laptop or computer. Smart phones also have these capabilities. 

Some companies may ask you to download a software to use while videoconferencing, but others are integrated into a website and there is no need for a software download. You simply click the link on a device that has the above requirements and you can use the website to access your appointment. 

Privacy regarding health information is very important. Many software companies are offering Hipaa compliant televideo conferencing services for your therapist or psychiatrist to use. In fact some of these services are free, such as https://www.doxy.me

At Inland Psychiatric Medical Group Inc in Southern California, we have been utilizing doxy.me as well as Kareo's integrated teleappointment software as well.

Online therapy or behavioral health services are often covered by health insurance plans, but may not always be, and so it is important to talk to your insurance company about what might be covered and if there is any difference in coverage between in-person visits and online visits. 

In light of COVID-19, many insurances are now newly covering online visits and so, even if in the recent past they had not been, its important to know if this has changed recently with your own medical insurance. Medicare is covering online appointments.

Sometimes if an insurance company is not covering the services, they will let you use your FSA funds towards the cost of the appointment. 

Online therapy or telehealth can be helpful in a health crisis such as the current COVID-19 crisis by helping with social distancing, limiting the spread of the infection, and reducing the risk of transmission of the infection. 

Having continued access to your therapist or psychiatrist is important and ofcourse during this heightened time of stress, it might be even more important for your mental health. Often medications prescribed by psychiatrists can be sent by an electronic prescription directly to the pharmacy and the pharmacy can offer home delivery, which further aids in lowering the risk of transmission of the virus. 

Some people may at first find televisits to be cumbersome, or intimidating due to the technology needed. For instance some people may not be familiar with using a computer, laptop, notepad, or smart phone. Its important to reach out to your friends and family that you know may not be technologically savvy and to help them set up their electronic devices so that they can continue to engage in care not only with their mental health professionals but with their other doctors as well.

RAINN is an organization that helps those suffering from sexual assault and sexual violence. They have a 24/7 hotline 1-800-565-HOPE (4673) 

RAINN stands for Rapte, Abuse, & Incest National Network.

Those suffering can talk to a trained staff member confidentially online as well.

Sexual violence in a relationship is rarely an isolated incident. Warning signs of abuse include an abusive partner who attempts to cut their partner off from friends and family. This can be especially easy to do during the recommended social distancing during the pandemic Covid-19. Additionally if those that have experienced domestic violence loses their job or financial stability, the abuser may use this as an opportunity to gain even more control.

It is important to reach out if concerned for your safety or the safety of children in the household. Though the someone may still have strong feelings for the abuser, or afraid of what their family may think, they don't have to end the abusive relationship all alone, or on someone else's timeline. Making the first step by reaching out to a loved one, local organization or a law enforcement can lead to ending the relationship when ready to take that step. 

The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 800-799-SAFE (7233)

People in  an abusive relationship may develop symptoms of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders, or develop a substance use disorder. It is important to seek mental health care from a therapist, counselor, or psychiatrist. Sometimes talk therapy by a Psychologist or Therapist is helpful enough, and other times the symptoms require medication to be prescribed by a Psychiatrist (MD or DO) or a Nurse Practitioner/Physician's Assistant that is working under a Psychiatrist. Your OBGYN or PCP can be of help to, and then help you find a Psychiatrist if needed. 

If you are Interested In outpatient mental health services and a resident of California, please take a look at www.inlandpsych.com for a location near you or call 909-335-3026 or email [email protected]. You can ask for me Neelima Kunam M.D. or for the next available Psychiatrist at a location closest to you. Additionally we are offering Video Visits and Telephone visits due to Covid 19. We take a variety of insurances, including Medical/Medicaid.

As always If you are having a medical emergency, or your life is in danger, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room safely.