Episode 15: 2020 Wrap Up
In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Katherine Pannel, Medical Director of Right Track Medical Group, to discuss the advancements mental healthcare has made in the last year, as well as the impacts of COVID-19 on the mental health of patients — and providers. Listen now below, or anywhere you get your podcasts.
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
Rhes Low, Host:
Welcome to South of Fine, a podcast from My Track Medical Group dedicated to de-stigmatizing mental health in the South through genuine conversation about the challenges that we all face every day. For more information, please visit our website righttrackmedical.com\southoffine, but we hope you enjoy listening to our podcast. Please remember that this is not a substitute for professional diagnosis or for the treatment of any mental health condition.
Dr. Pannel, at the time that we last talked, COVID it dominated everything, in all ways, and really not much has changed. On those first episodes we spent ... Actually, by the way, how are you?
Dr. Katherine Pannel, Medical Director, Right Track Medical Group:
I'm good. Thank you.
Low:
Okay, good. Good
Dr. Pannel:
Yeah.
Low:
On those first episodes, we did spend a lot of time discussing the impact of COVID on our mental health. So, let's talk about that again as the first question, where do we stand as we think about things now with COVID and our mental health, do you think people have learned better coping strategies or are we still struggling through all this?
Dr. Pannel:
That's a good question, that is hard to answer because I think there are certain populations that are finally doing better, like our kids. I think for the most part, they're all back in school, I know mine have been back in school since August, all three of mine and no quarantines, no shutdowns, nothing. I think their mental health is much improved because that's what they needed. Their coping skills are immature. They don't really know how to employ those, but being around friends and having structure and normalcy, that was huge for them.
But I think the rest of us are still struggling despite probably even employing our best coping skills. I think there was a sense of false hope when ... Especially in Mississippi, when number started falling and our mask mandates were not renewed. I think we got a little bit hopeful and excited that this was the end of it, only to realize that no, we're still in the thick of it for a while and probably will be until a vaccine comes out.
Low:
Yeah, that's right on point. I couldn't articulate it that way, but I feel it as you said it. I mean, we're the thick of it and everything is affected by it and we are tripped up left and right because of it, it's gotten frustrating. And like you said, it's probably going to be our world for a while.
Dr. Pannel:
Yep. And there's massive COVID fatigue, mask fatigue, I think by and large, we're all just kind of over it really.
Low:
Yeah. Absolutely. I know, and I hate to say that because I know that people are struggling with illness from it, but I'm tired of it and I know you are. And I can speculate what these specific groups of people that in our population are struggling, but I want to hear it from a professional standpoint. So, what do you think, what specific groups of our population are having a harder time with this?
Dr. Pannel:
Like I said, the kids are doing better. I think a lot of normalcy has returned to the adult world as far as work, either they're coming back into their workplace or they're still working from home. So, I think that's gotten better, but I think two of the populations that are really still struggling, if not more, I know healthcare workers. I mean, the amount of burnout they must be experiencing, this has not slowed down for them. They are probably one of the hardest hit populations and it's not getting any better. And I think still, our elderly population, nothing has improved with COVID to the point where they can get back outside and socialize, especially in nursing homes, nothing's changed. They're still cut off from family, friends. So I think, healthcare workers and our elderly are still really struggling.
Low:
Yeah. And everything you mentioned in regard to the elderly, they need the same thing as everyone else, they need social. They need to [crosstalk 00:04:40]. They need to be moving or their bodies don't respond well.
Dr. Pannel:
Right.
Low:
And then, the healthcare, I forgot about that, Dr. Pannel, that's a really important point. These healthcare workers need our support more than ever.
Dr. Pannel:
Mm-hmm (affirmative). Absolutely.
Low:
And I think that we have put them to the side a little bit in our thinking, because we've got so much other stuff going on. They are still in the thick of it. I'm just reiterating what you said because it's really important for our listeners to know that they need our support and now more than ever.
Dr. Pannel:
And I think what's sad too, is the elderly, I mean usually their main source of support is their family, same for healthcare workers, but elderly can't have their family around because the risk of catching COVID. But on the opposite end of that, healthcare workers are still not really being able to fully engage with their families because they don't want to spread it to their families. So, it's a lot of loneliness and isolation for both of those groups.
Low:
I have friends that are in the medical profession that are still living in their garage apartment-
Dr. Pannel:
Yes. Yep.
Low:
Cut off from their family, I mean, it's harsh.
Dr. Pannel:
Yep.
Low:
So, in this discussion, do you think that 2020 has changed how we are thinking about mental health?
Dr. Pannel:
I do. I think that it's given us a little more insight to how important good mental healthcare is. I think one of the probably positives of this whole pandemic is it's maybe reduced the stigma a little bit. I think, to some degree COVID has affected everybody mentally and I think they realize that nobody's immune to mental illness. We're all vulnerable and susceptible to mental illness and it is okay to seek help. I think more people are now seeking help, which if there's a good thing to say about COVID, that maybe is it.
Low:
There's always a light somewhere.
Dr. Pannel:
You've got to find it. Sometimes you have to search for it, but there is one, yes. Yeah.
Low:
That's right. From a layman's standpoint, I feel the same way. At the beginning of this, people were kind of ... didn't know what to think, turn their nose up, but mental health is part of our conversation now.
Dr. Pannel:
Yes, and I do love that part of it. Yeah.
Low:
Well, and you guys have been so good at pushing that agenda to break that stigma and this has really helped those efforts. Like you said, if a light can be shone in this mess. So, have there been any setbacks in regard to mental health, maybe the amount of work, the amount of people that are being affected?
Dr. Pannel:
Yeah. Well, so most of my patients ... And even my husband, Steven, he does addiction psychiatry. I think we're seeing patients that have been stable for a while, we're seeing some decompensation with them. More people are relapsing. My depressed patients are getting more depressed. I think we've slid backwards in that I'm seeing much more PTSD than I've ever seen and it's usually COVID related.
Low:
Oh, man.
Dr. Pannel:
So, I do think patients are probably struggling more, getting sicker more, but just back to what we were saying, they are seeking help more. Whereas before, like we've always talked about, one in five suffers but millions don't seek treatment. I think at least now they are seeking treatment for it.
Low:
That's great. That's great. We just actually did an episode on PTSD. I learned a lot. I didn't really-
Dr. Pannel:
It was a great episode. I listened too.
Low:
Oh, thank you. That's awesome. Yes, she was very articulate and succinct, I had to ... Because she knew it. Yeah. And I bring that point up so people will know PTSD can affect any part of your life. Let's see. So, we've kind of covered this, but I think it helps in defining the year and giving some articulation to it. So, what lessons have we learned about mental health this year?
Dr. Pannel:
I think that we have realized that mental health is an integral part of overall good physical health. I think that we're finally realizing that it's all interconnected and that we have to set aside time to take care of mental health just as we would physical health, and that self-care is huge for everybody. Finding good ways to tend to self-care, finding good ways to tend to your healthy coping skills, I think that's what we really have realized throughout this about mental health.
Low:
That's great. Yeah. I tell you, what I've learned is that there are normal everyday things that we call such as anxiety. I've never associated that with mental health, that is a mental health issue.
Dr. Pannel:
Yep.
Low:
That can lead to a lot of stronger issues, and that has been eyeopening to me because we as Southerners have typically thrown those to the side and said, "Oh, that [crosstalk 00:09:57]"
Dr. Pannel:
Mm-hmm (affirmative). That's part of life, get over it, it's life. Yeah.
Low:
Yeah. Yeah. Just fix it, you can do it.
Dr. Pannel:
Yep.
Low:
Just do it, it's so easy to be happy.
Dr. Pannel:
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Low:
Yeah. So, that's been an eye opener for me, as I'm sure a lot of people feel the same way. And another all encompassing theme, and maybe you can talk about this, is being with others and seeking out conversation with others, apparently that's really good for us.
Dr. Pannel:
Yeah. Humans are social creatures. I mean, by nature we're social creatures and I think that's another thing that people are realizing. Even my introverts are realizing that to some degree, everybody has to have socializations. I mean, that's just who we are. And we were talking about healthcare workers, they are really vulnerable to lack of social support and isolation and loneliness just by the nature of their job. And I think we're all realizing that we can have ... Even health workers, they see nurses, they see techs, just in passing and everything, but it's all about meaningful conversation. Even if it's virtually via Zoom or your telephone, we need to start having meaningful conversations, not superficial, but meaningful conversation, even if you can't be there in person, is huge as far as social support for us.
Low:
Yeah. That's a great point. Meaningful conversations, chatter, which is a lot of what happens, especially on social media.
Dr. Pannel:
I mean, yes, and that can be harmful to mental health, it's just the above surface chatter, bullying. We got to get away from that and just really focus on relationships and a meaningful conversation.
Low:
Yeah. So, in regard to ... Because we're talking about a wrap up of the year 2020, a lot of people are doing the new year's resolutions and that sort of thing. Is that a good way to think of it or do you have a better way that you explain that?
Dr. Pannel:
I don't know, I don't love a new year's resolution because I mean, they're really hard to keep, if you think about it. I mean, we usually give us the hardest thing to do to make our resolution, and oftentimes it kind of leads in disappointment. I mean really, if you really put up a specific one that's just really hard to attain. I mean, it can lead to disappointment and make you feel bad in the end. But I think just generally saying, "I'm going to work on myself for 2021. I'm going to do a better job of working on myself, my mental health." That's very broad and something that is attainable. You just seek to do better, you know?
Low:
Right. Yeah. Seek to do better and don't beat yourself up.
Dr. Pannel:
Exactly. Yes. We're all our hardest critic, ourselves ... We are the hardest critics that we have. We're so hard on ourselves, but give yourself a little grace, just work to do better.
Low:
Yeah. Yeah. That's a very awesome point. We talked about that in regard to holiday stress earlier, just give yourself permission to ... If you've had enough of your family, just walk out and-
Dr. Pannel:
Yeah. To go into your bedroom.
Low:
You don't have to stay there.
Dr. Pannel:
Yep. Yep.
Low:
And then, give them a little bit of grace. Don't talk about politics.
Dr. Pannel:
Oh God, no.
Low:
That might be a whole show [crosstalk 00:13:19].
Dr. Pannel:
Oh, that could be a whole nother podcast, how to deal with election stress.
Low:
We're not going to go down that hole. Yeah. I'm sure a lot of people are actually dealing ... Actually, that's a good point. There's a lot of people dealing with that right now. There's 2020. Yeah, it's been a fun year
Dr. Pannel:
Yep.
Low:
So, I'm looking at my script here and it says, ask you your personal resolutions for 2021, but I'm more interested in where you would like to see, on the shoulders of 2020, mental health profession go in 2021?
Dr. Pannel:
Well, I hope that this reduced stigma and this willingness to get treatment sticks around. I hope that when things get better, people don't start neglecting their mental health because all of a sudden things are better. I think mental health is an ongoing, ever-changing, ever-improving, something that you need to keep [inaudible 00:14:16] with for your entire life. It's such an integral part of everything, and I hope that for ... I do think things are going to get better in 2021. We're already looking at vaccines coming out, and I think it's going to get better, but I don't want us to forget where we were because I really think it spotlighted and put emphasis on how important mental healthcare is, and I hope that that will continue.
Low:
Yeah. And wouldn't you say mental health is synonymous with relationships? I have to ask you because I sometimes will say things that don't make any sense.
Dr. Pannel:
No, I mean, I think especially with my college females, they are always wanting to be in a relationship and they don't like to be by themselves. They always are looking ... Even when they break up, they're already ready to find another one. The thing is, is you're never going to have a healthy relationship until you yourself are healthy. I mean, you need to be happy with yourself individually so that you can contribute to a relationship, but be happy on your own as well.
Low:
Yes. And that's where I wanted to bring this back to is the self-analyzing, or maybe there's a softer way to put that. Just be aware of what's going on in your life by taking a little bit of time for yourself and understanding I'm lacking here, this is affecting me here. I think COVID, like you said, has brought all of that to light in 2020 and understanding that we actually like having relationships with others and need them as a part of our life, not just on a computer screen. So, it'll be fine. Is there anything that you would like to ...
Dr. Pannel:
Yeah. And I mean, I don't want to end it on a down, Debbie downer, pessimistic note, but I think it's important, 2020 is not over, especially in the mental health field. Winter is coming, like they say on Game of Thrones, winter is coming and a lot of people do poorly in the winter. We have the time change where it gets darker, so you're going to work and you're leaving in the dark. It's cold, so you spend more time indoors. People with seasonal affective already ... I mean, get ready because one of the things we encourage them to do is to get out and do things, don't stay cooped up in your house, but that's limited right now. So, continue to employ whatever healthy coping mechanisms you can. Add things like bright light therapy, whether it's the visor or the bright lights, but just be prepared that winter, it's hard for people that are struggling with mental illness and there may be some worsening before it gets better.
Low:
Yeah. So, we've basically got a perfect storm coming.
Dr. Pannel:
Absolutely. Yep.
Low:
So, your word is for everybody to be careful and care for themselves during the-
Dr. Pannel:
Yes. Everything that you have already tried to implement, continue, and you may even need to add a few things, but all in all, just take care of yourself. And when you've employed everything you can and it's still not working, go see somebody.
Low:
Yeah. Reach out.
Dr. Pannel:
Yeah.
Low:
Reach out was the old ... Was it AT&T or something? Reach out and touch someone.
Dr. Pannel:
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Low:
That old telephone commercial. I mean, there's truth.
Dr. Pannel:
Yes. No doubt.
Low:
Everybody wants you to, we want you to be good, to be solid. Well, Dr. Pannel, as always quite a pleasure, and we're so happy that you're in Oxford specifically, but in Mississippi as a whole, advising and offering your help where people need it.
Dr. Pannel:
And thank you for being willing to be another outlet to spread that mental healthcare is okay, and being another place where stigma is being reduced. So, thank you.
Low:
Oh, absolutely. I've enjoyed it, and I've enjoyed all that I've learned this year in a very short span. We started in June, but it seems like that was a year ago.
Dr. Pannel:
Oh my gosh. It's the weirdest thing. I was talking about it with my friends, we're looking up, and we're like, "How is it already the holidays?" It feels like in some ways it flew by, but yet it also feels like this was the longest six months of our lives. It's just the most bizarre situation.
Low:
It really is, and I think, you kind of touched on it about our kids, they don't really comprehend what this is, but I never want them to have to comprehend what this is.
Dr. Pannel:
Oh, you and me both.
Low:
And I think that that's like what you guys keep talking about or what you're talking about, be careful because we've been in a hole, [inaudible 00:19:03] been trying to dig out of it and we can easily fall back in.
Dr. Pannel:
Yeah. It goes the same with psychiatric medications. I have so many people that get better on the medications and they'll come to me six months down the road and they're doing terrible. I'm like, "Well, what happened?" And they say, "Well, I felt better, so I stopped my medication." The reason why you were doing better is because of the medication. So, don't just stop it, continue what you're doing, maintain your mental health.
Low:
Yeah. There you go. That's a great way to end it. Yeah. Maintain your mental health.
Dr. Pannel:
There you go. We should make a hashtag.
Low:
Awesome. Well, thank you so much.
Dr. Pannel:
No, thank you.
Low:
Absolutely. It's a pleasure. Y'all have a good rest of the year.
If you have questions about mental health and the COVID-19 pandemic that you'd like our providers to answer on a future episode, please email southoffine@righttrackmedical.com. And if you'd like more information about Right Track Medical Group or the South of Fine podcast, please visit righttrackmedical.com. Thanks to our production team, Kelley Hunsberger, Caitlyn Clegg, Carol Ann Hughes, Aleka Battista, and Reese Lau. A special thanks to Squadcast for providing superior remote interview services.
Brasfield:
So, I'm not really sure where I'll be.
Low:
Wow. Yeah, that's awesome.
Brasfield:
So I could be at the hospital. I could be home. I'm not really sure what's going to go on.
Green:
Congratulations.
Low:
Well, that's super cool. Congratulations
Brasfield:
Thank you.
Green:
Yes, I'll be in Hattiesburg. My husband and I both have family here, so that makes it easy and difficult, a lot of family to see in a short period of time. But we're also very fortunate we don't have to travel too far, so we'll be around Hattiesburg.
Low:
All right. Well, guys, thank you for your time.
Brasfield:
Thanks for having us.
Low:
If you have questions about mental health and the COVID-19 pandemic that you'd like our providers to answer in a future episode, please email South of Fine at righttrackmedical.com. And if you'd like more information about Right Track Medical Group or the South of Fine podcast, please visit righttrackmedical.com. Thanks to our production team, Kelley Hunsberger, Caitlyn Clegg, Carol Ann Hughes, Aleka Battista, and Rhes Low. A special thanks to the SquadCast for providing superior remote interview services.
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