Arizona doctors COVID-19 impacts on mental health as overdose deaths rise

TUCSON, Ariz. (KOLD News 13) – COVID-19 is taking a toll on mental health and overdoses are on the rise. Arizona healthcare providers are seeing an increase in people with depression and anxiety in recent months.

“Part of maintaining sobriety and abstaining from substances is a sense of community and with social isolation, that’s just not possible,” said Dr. Rogelio Samorano, the director of Psychiatric Services at El Rio Health.

Family physician Dr. Natasha Bhuyan at One Medical in Phoenix said she’s seen an increase in requests for depression and anxiety-related medications.

“That physical distancing, that social isolation, it is taking a toll on people,” Bhuyan said.