Quite understandably, the fear of COVID-19 during this pandemic can cause a lot of stress and anxiety for people. Public health measures, such as social distancing, implemented to curb the spread of the virus can make anyone feel lonely, and further exacerbate any underlying mental health conditions. Other layers of stress exist for people, related to economic concerns, employment, school, and childcare uncertainty, racial tensions, and more.
Therefore, the need for mental health surveillance and planning is critical, especially during this pandemic. Surveying helps officials understand how the residents of Milford are feeling in these conditions (i.e., happiness, stress, loneliness), sources of these feelings, and the mechanisms or activities used to overcome or cope with their thoughts. This valuable information improves understanding of the mental health of our community.
The Milford Board of Health plans to use the analyzed data to inform and plan community resources and programs that best meet the needs of the residents. For your convenience, the survey has been developed in multiple languages and you may access using the below links.
- For English: https://form.jotform.com/201868129090053
- Para Español: https://form.jotform.com/202096351223143
- Para Portugues: https://form.jotform.com/202126072480142
Every resident is encouraged to share their stories and thoughts in the survey, available online at the links above. Perspectives from residents with different backgrounds and across the community will help yield better data to help understand the health of the population, thereby improving services, helping build community, and keep Milford healthier.