Because of the health risks associated with COVID-19, social changes have become universal side effects from the virus. The adjustments we’ve made individually and collectively are bound to last beyond the time that a viable vaccine is discovered and distributed. There have been stressful shifts that cause strain on our mental health, our wallets, our relationships, and our sense of purpose and belonging. As difficult as these challenges have been, there may be unexpected lessons from these experiences.
The sacrifices imparted by the COVID-19 pandemic impact every aspect of our lives – work, school, camps, personal relationships, funerals, graduations, and more. What “recovery” means in each of these areas is different and, like the data regarding Health Recovery, continues to evolve. There seem to be phases and feelings that are not linear.
In addition, the pandemic has heightened generations of societal ills that we must face – economic, health, and structural. In this section on Social Recovery from COVID-19, we address a series of issues connected to our everyday lives, whether by choice or happenstance, as well as cultural constructs. When hearing people’s stories, we believe that you’ll see yourself and relate to what has been hard, feel reassured that others encounter similar challenges, and find comfort, even inspiration, in ideas and methods to help cope.
