We all
know that COVID-19 has significantly affected both the domestic and global
economies through widespread contagion, the closure of businesses, job losses,
scaled-back operations and lost revenues. Also, whenever a new variant is
identified, the investment markets tend to react negatively.1 Therefore, it’s easy to
connect the dots between the physical health of the nation’s population and the
health of the economy.
But
what about mental health? In recent years, there has been a much greater focus
on the breadth and depth of mental illness in America, including anxiety,
depression, burnout and substance abuse. The pandemic has exacerbated these
issues as people suffer from fear of job instability, isolation and worry about
their physical health.2
On
top of that, we are experiencing what economists are referring to as “The Great
Resignation.” New insights and observations reveal that people aren’t just
tired of their jobs due to poor wages, but they also suffer from long-term
mental fatigue related to working a job that provides no joy and adds stress.3
Insurance
companies previously classified mental illness as a pre-existing condition and
would charge higher premiums or even deny health coverage for a patient with
such a diagnosis. However, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA)
of 2010 was the first substantial legislation that recognized mental illness as
a physical ailment and mandated that health insurance companies cover it under
their policies. Millions of Americans have benefitted from the diagnosis and
treatment of conditions that have traditionally been treated as taboo. Through
therapy, medication, behavior and lifestyle modifications, many Americans are
able to recover or manage their mental health, which improves their quality of
life and engagement in jobs and allows them to contribute to a stronger economy.4
Worry
is a big contributor to mental health issues, and we know that people spend a
lot of time worrying about their finances. What if this happens, or what if
that happens? A good way to provide some sense of relief is to be properly
insured against large financial losses. We can help you prepare for retirement
by setting up an insurance-backed source for a stream of income. Please give us
a call if you’d like to learn more.
Unfortunately,
the pandemic changed the working landscape and thus uncovered many of the
ongoing flaws in both the health care industry and labor force that either
contribute to or at least fail to mitigate factors that contribute to mental
illness. This, in turn, continues to hurt the health of our economy as much as
our personal health. For example, since the beginning of the pandemic, 60% to
75% of health care workers have reported symptoms of exhaustion, depression,
sleep disorders and PTSD. One in five have quit their jobs. Even before
COVID-19, burnout cost the U.S. health care system about $4.6 billion a year.5
A
recent survey by The Economist Intelligence Unit revealed that company
executives view fatigue, burnout and stress as the top barriers to business
growth. It also found that eight in 10 workers feel emotionally drained by
their jobs. As for coping with the added stress of the pandemic, today’s
workers are having to deal with isolation, disconnection and the blurred line
between work and home life.6
Content
prepared by Kara Stefan Communications.
1 Reuters. Nov. 26, 2021. “What investors are
saying about the new virus variant.” https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/what-investors-are-saying-about-new-virus-variant-2021-11-26/.
Accessed Dec. 6, 2021.
2 Marius Brülhart, Valentin Klotzbücher, Rafael
Lalive and Stephanie K. Reich. Nature. Nov. 17, 2021. “Mental health concerns
during the COVID-19 pandemic as revealed by helpline calls.” https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-04099-6.
Accessed Dec. 6, 2021.
3 Yasmin Gagne. FastCompany. Dec. 6, 2021.
“Prince Harry says quitting can be good for your mental health.” https://www.fastcompany.com/90702784/prince-harry-says-quitting-can-be-good-for-your-mental-health.
Accessed Dec. 6, 2021.
4 Steve Pitman. Cal Matters. Aug. 26, 2021.
“Pandemic brings extra need for mental health care resources.” https://calmatters.org/commentary/2021/08/pandemic-brings-extra-need-for-mental-health-care-resources/.
Accessed Dec. 6, 2021.
5 David Levine. U.S. News & World Report.
Nov. 15, 2021. “U.S. Faces Crisis of Burned-Out Health Care Workers.” https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2021-11-15/us-faces-crisis-of-burned-out-health-care-workers.
Accessed Dec. 6, 2021.
6 Charlotte Business Journal. Dec. 6, 2021.
“Workforce health: A business imperative to achieve economic prosperity.” https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2021/12/06/workforce-health-a-business-imperative-to-achieve.html.
Accessed Dec. 6, 2021.
We
are an independent firm helping individuals create retirement strategies using
a variety of insurance products to custom suit their needs and objectives. This
material is intended to provide general information to help you understand
basic retirement income strategies and should not be construed as financial
advice.
The
information contained in this material is believed to be reliable, but accuracy
and completeness cannot be guaranteed; it is not intended to be used as the
sole basis for financial decisions.
Investment Advisory Services are offered by
Imber Financial Group, LLC., a Registered Investment Adviser firm. Insurance
services are offered through Imber Wealth Advisors, Inc. Imber Financial Group,
LLC. and Imber Wealth Advisors, Inc. are affiliated companies