Licensed Clinical Social Worker Alecia Bretl knows she is battling other outside forces when working with patients at Door County Medical Center.  The Centers for Disease Control reported earlier this year that American adults had considerably elevated adverse mental health conditions due in part to COVID-19. Minorities, essential workers, and unpaid adult caregivers showed having even worse mental health outcomes. Bretl says the pandemic has caused many people to struggle with how to handle their emotions and feelings, even people who normally do not struggle with their mental health. 

Bretl says her role has even shifted to being a sounding board for her co-workers on the frontlines who need an opportunity to take off their superhero capes.

Bretl says reaching out is the hardest part and encourages people to take advantage of the resources they have available to them. You can hear more from our interview with Bretl online with this story.