The reopening does not concern haircuts, it is to relieve human suffering


Written by Randy Hicks via InsideSources.com,

Georgia has recently started the long process of reopening its economy following what is expected to be the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beginning in late April, certain categories of businesses were allowed to open in Georgia, including restaurants and hair salons. The encouraging news is that infection rates have not soared, they even flatten and decrease.

Many are concerned that we are acting too early, too quickly and that security is in the background. This concern is understandable. The cost of the virus in suffering and loss of life is indescribable, as thousands of families are affected in a way that they will never forget.

On the other hand, many are calling for even faster action to get people back to work.

The reopening does not concern haircuts, it is to relieve human suffering 1

In truth, both parties are right. Our first priority must be health. Obviously, it beats everyone. But a key aspect of health is not just avoiding a virus, but the whole spectrum of human well-being and fulfillment. And to achieve this, we cannot afford to stay on the block much longer.

We clearly know the economic devastation caused by the virus: About half of low-income households. reported a loss of job or salary due to a coronavirus. These job losses can be felt for years as families struggle, or can never, recover, plunging them into poverty.

The results are real. I think of young mothers like Jessica (it’s not her real name to protect her identity), who lived in their car with their young son following job cuts and evictions. There are countless such stories.

But what about the cost of mental health and general well-being? The image is starting to emerge, and it’s not pretty. In fact, we are facing a public mental health crisis.

NAIL Recent Kaiser Family Foundation Survey found that More than half of American adults (56%) say that concerns about the coronavirus epidemic have caused them stress-induced symptoms. such as insomnia, poor appetite or overeating, or frequent headaches or upset stomachs.

It’s just the beginning. We have also seen the effects of social isolation on a 1000% increase in hotlines in April alone.

The rates of addiction and suicide will surely go up. Analysis He predicts that if the United States reaches unemployment rates of depression, we could see 18,000 more suicides and an overdose of 22,000 more deaths.

The confidence of well-being recently published an estimate report the pandemic could result in an additional 75,000 “hopeless deaths” due to drug and alcohol abuse and suicide.

During this blockade, people lack the ingredients that contribute to a flourishing life: community, relationships, purpose and belonging. And the truth is that for many Americans, a job is an important way to take advantage of these benefits. This is where we find community, socialize and discover meaning.

A job is much more than a salary.

We know that human beings work best when they are engaged in meaningful work. So far, the dialogue on reopening has mainly focused on “essential” jobs versus “non-essential” jobs.

But each job is essential for the person who occupies it. And not just from a financial point of view: it is a key gateway to what gives meaning to the lives of many of us.

Protecting public health and bringing people back to their jobs and their communities are not mutually exclusive priorities.

We can and must do both. We can be sensitive to the loss of life and human suffering during this pandemic.

But we must also recognize the pain of those whose means of financial survival have been shattered.

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