• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Crescendo Consulting Group

Crescendo Consulting Group

  • Who We Are
    • History
    • Mission
    • Our Approach
    • Team
    • Careers
  • Services
    • Community Needs Assessment
    • Harbor Performance Initiative
    • HUD Five-Year Consolidated Plans
    • Marketing Communications
    • Population Health and Market Research
    • Strategy and Development
  • Our Work
    • Clients
  • Press
  • Blog
  • Contact

The Dragon’s Tail: Behavioral Health in 2020Q2 and Practical Things We Can Do To Impact Our Community

You are here: Home / Behavioral Health / The Dragon’s Tail: Behavioral Health in 2020Q2 and Practical Things We Can Do To Impact Our Community

June 22, 2020 by Scott Good Leave a Comment

We have all probably seen some of the statistics. Completed suicides in some parts of the U.S. are expected to increase 32% over the next two years. Prescriptions for Zoloft rose 12 percent year-over-year to 4.9 million in March, representing the highest level ever in the U.S. A Kaiser poll reports almost half of the U.S. population claims that the protracted pandemic-related crisis is hindering their mental health. Compared to a year ago, a federal emergency hotline for those experiencing psychological affliction documented a 1,000 percent increase in calls. A surge in mental health needs is soon to be upon us.

Along with “everything else,” this is sobering news and a reminder that even when we see decreasing numbers of COVID-19 related deaths and hospitalizations, the mental health impact will be the “tail of the dragon” – referring to a menacing, and often unanticipated, secondary impact that occurs after a major antecedent event.

“So, what do we, what can we, do about it?”

The response is personal, as well as societal – just like the challenges we face.  On a personal level, we need to manage the things in our control.

  • Get perspective:  One of the biggest realizations we can make is knowing that our increased stress level is a typical and natural response to a very atypical situation.  It’s okay to feel stressed; know that you are absolutely NOT alone.
  • Help someone else:  You will feel better when you reach out to someone else to check on them, do something (even something little) nice for them, maybe even do something anonymously for a friend who needs a hand.
  • Take care of your body: Eat healthful meals (though, I’m sure a little chocolate is okay J), and exercise.
  • Don’t make any “unforced errors” – the old tennis term:  Avoid alcohol and other drugs.
  • Connect with others: Share your concerns and how you are feeling with a friend or family member. Talk to a clergy member, counselor, or doctor.
  • Stay informed: However, avoid too much exposure to news. When you do view news, consider insights from several perspectives, and try to objectively find “reality.”
  • IMPORTANT:  Do these things in an ongoing manner to maintain good insight and avoid the dragon’s tail.

Societally, we need to decamp. The behavioral health of our communities is damaged as people become increasingly polarized – less tolerant of differing opinions; quick to label someone with a differing viewpoint “bad or evil.” It is difficult for any one of us to single-handedly change society, yet we can each change “our little corner” of it. In addition to the personal responses noted above, we can impact our community in several ways.

  • Volunteer:  Most areas include senior citizen communities, church ministry outreaches, children’s services agencies, and other places that always need additional support. The “one you” has the ability to impact the “many” who most need a friendly face.
  • Reduce mental health stigma: Research by Pescosolido finds that 58% do not want people with mental illness in their workplaces,[4] and approximately 60% believe that individuals with mental illness are violent.[5]  Know that it is perfectly normal to connect with a friend, counselor, clergy, or other. When someone shares their struggles with someone close to them, the most common response is, “Really?  Me too!”
  • Prioritize things in your life and help community organizations prioritize their work:  Health systems, Community Action Agencies, and even governments conduct Needs Assessments and do Strategic Planning all the time.  The purpose is that no organization can do everything for everybody – they must use resources wisely.  [NOTE:  Crescendo has worked for decades on this exact issue.] 

In our piece of society, as we each work together to positively impact a few highly important objectives – ones affecting the greatest number of people or the neediest among us – we can more effectively serve our community, avoid or lower the magnitude of behavioral health needs,  and avoid future menacing and unanticipated events – the dragon’s tail.

Image Credit: Photo by Donald Giannatti on Unsplash

Behavioral Health

About Scott Good

Scott Good has over 20 years experience in providing consulting services in quantitative and qualitative marketing research, strategic planning, new business development, manufacturing management, and international strategic alliance development. Scott is skilled at streamlining decision processes and maximizing the value of market opportunities for clients. He has successfully worked with healthcare facilities, insurance companies, financial institutions, food and beverage manufacturers, distribution companies, biotechnology businesses, public sector agencies (local, state, federal, and international), non-profits, and firms in other sectors.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

blooming flowers

Let’s work together

Get in touch with us and let us know how we can help you.

Contact Us

Footer

Social

Follow along on social media.

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Phone
  • Twitter

Contact

Crescendo Consulting Group
63 Federal Street #1028
Portland, Maine 04101
Get Directions
207.223.7076
info@crescendocg.com

Navigation

  • Community Needs Assessment
  • Harbor Performance Initiative
  • HUD Five-Year Consolidated Plans
  • Marketing Communications
  • Population Health and Market Research
  • Strategy and Development

© 2025 · Crescendo Consulting Group

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Reject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT