It’s hard to watch the people you want to help suffer. And that suffering is often more intense during an election year. Arguments, family rifts, social media, misinformation, AI and more can intensify feelings during an election year. There can be a lot of uncertainty, anger and fear, especially for trans and other LGBTQ+ individuals, who could be at risk of losing rights they’ve already been granted.
If your behavioral health clients have been talking about the upcoming elections, you might wonder how to best address it – or if you should acknowledge it at all.
U.S. Mental Health Plummets During an Election Year
If you feel like your mental health is worse during an election year, you’re not alone. A recent survey found that 40% of Americans feel depressed and/or anxious around the election season.
The May 2024 survey from Myriad Genetics also found that:
- 38% of respondents said that news and social media around the upcoming election is making them more anxious than usual
- 35% already feel “checked out” by the overwhelming amount of news and social media attention
- Only one in three Americans (37%) who have been diagnosed with depression and/or anxiety are currently receiving professional mental health help
Thomas J. Valente, a psychiatrist from Leesburg, Florida says that the results of the survey show that “politics and elections tend to trouble our nation’s mental wellbeing … My patients, especially those with significant mental illness, all worry as to how the election will affect them.”
A February 2024 survey had similar findings:
- 35% of respondents felt anxious about the election for all or most of the previous 30 days
- 33% felt stressed about the election for all or most of the previous 30 days
- 35% felt nervous about the election for all or most of the previous 30 days
- 34% felt angry about the election for all or most of the previous 30 days
Related: Stuck in Depression and Nothing Helps – Not Even Therapy
Talking About Politics With Your Clients
Obviously, politics matters when it comes to mental health, but should you include it with your work with clients? Is it helpful, or even appropriate?
Not sure what to do when clients start talking about the election? Licensed psychologist Kyler Shumway, Psy.D. has a few tips:
Set the Tone
Create a space for talk about politics in therapy. Start by “setting the frame for what political discussion in therapy might look like through the process of informed consent.”
Focus on the Relationship
If your client starts ranting about whatever political candidate they hate, it could be a way to avoid going deeper in therapy, or it could be genuinely important to the client. Your relationship with your client matters, so if you feel that it’s important to them, consider letting them have the floor – especially if it’s your first few sessions and you’re still building rapport.
Bring It Back to the Client
On the other hand, if the same political issues keep coming up, it could be a way to distract from the real purpose of their sessions.
Dr. Shumway says:
“In a way, talking about politics can make therapy less about the client. We can avoid making therapy about [insert politician]’s latest absurdity by bringing it back to the client.”
When it comes to discussing political content in your sessions, you’ll have to weigh the costs and benefits and determine for yourself the best course of action.
How To Help Therapy Clients Manage Election Stress
Although you might be unwilling to discuss specific candidates or issues in therapy, you’ll still be able to help your clients with election stress and depression by concentrating on the symptoms they’re struggling with.
Focus on Self-Care
Encourage clients to practice self-care this election season by:
- Silencing breaking news notifications when possible
- Avoiding sensationalized or biased election coverage by getting their news from nonpartisan sources
Help Them Identify What They Can Control – And What They Can’t
Worry and other negative feelings about the election are perfectly valid, but at the same time, putting a lot of energy into those feelings can be very harmful. Helping clients to identify what they can’t control and what they can control can be really helpful when it comes to managing these overwhelming feelings like fear, worry or anger.
Related: Mental Illness and Genetics
Encourage Clients To Take a Social Media and/or News Break
Taking a break from it all is probably one of the most beneficial things someone can do when feeling emotional or stressed from election coverage. Encourage clients to take a break when they’re feeling overwhelmed or better yet, schedule regular social media and/or news breaks a few times a week.
We Are Here for You This Election Season
Not sure how to handle political issues with clients? Struggling with understanding the best way you can help each individual?
Region Five provides clinical, diversity and medical training for employees of Community Service Boards located in Southeastern and Coastal Virginia.
We offer:
- In-person trainings
- Online trainings
- A video library of previous trainings available on our website for no cost
Our professionals are afforded the best and most extensive training and resources to ensure they are equipped with current knowledge for best practices and implementation methods to share with you on your healing journey. Our Training Center is available to clinicians, qualified mental health professionals, and their respective leadership.
Ready to take your work to the next level?
Learn more about Region Five Outpatient Counseling and Clinician Training today.
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