Pandemic fear has gripped the globe for an entire year, and it continues to hold tight. Warnings of even more contagious and deadly disease variants are suspected just over the horizon, as constant coverage of case numbers and death counts urge us to stay diligent or risk certain doom.
The goal of this incessant message is to save lives, but the cost has been high. This past year on high alert has resulted in a sharp uptick in suicides, mental health problems, drug overdoses, and domestic abuse.