How has COVID affected your wellbeing?

As the COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues – and as the State, County, and City of West Hollywood continue moving through reopening protocols – many individuals are struggling with the emotional and mental ramifications of the past year.

Many people have experienced trauma related to the pandemic, whether from health issues or serving as a caretaker for others; from social isolation or loneliness; from loss of a job or economic hardship; or from a variety of other factors. There are added stresses related to going “back to normal” – what does normal look like and what does it mean personally and professionally? Addressing these impacts on wellbeing – in addition to addressing impacts on health and economic recovery – are crucial to the re-opening of society. 

The City of West Hollywood will host a panel discussion about physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health during COVID-19 and beyond. The panel discussion will take place virtually on the Zoom platform on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 at 6 p.m. Advance registration is requested by clicking here.

Panelists will include: Dr. Lauren D. Costine, Ph.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist; Rashad El Amin, Co-Founder, Foxy & Fierce Kickboxing Bootcamp; Reverend Karen Frost, Speaker, Counselor, Religious Science Minister; and Susan Isaacs, Certified Professional Dog Trainer. The panel will be moderated by City of West Hollywood Councilmember Sepi Shyne. 

“The COVID-19 pandemic has had an enormous impact on our community,” said City of West Hollywood Mayor Pro Tempore Lauren Meister. “The impact of the pandemic is not only financial; we are also witnessing effects on physical and emotional well-being. As we emerge from the difficult period we’ve all been through, it’s important to recognize that many people may need a little extra support in recovering. I hope this panel will help make the process just a little bit easier by offering insights into topics such as going back to work, socializing, and dealing with pet anxiety. Let’s all do what we can to help one another as we get back to a new normal.”

“The past year and a half has taken a toll on all of us in a way this generation has never experienced,” said City of West Hollywood Councilmember Sepi Shyne. “As we are coming out of the pandemic and moving to a new normal, it is important to discuss the effect of the past year and a half on our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well-being. This panel of experts will provide much needed insight and tools to help us navigate back to this new normal in a state of well-being and balance, including advice from a local dog trainer on how to deal with separation anxiety when going back to work and leaving your fur-family at home again.” 

The City of West Hollywood is responding to community needs and providing regular updates during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The City is taking extensive steps to support the community during this unprecedented time. In addition to providing regular updates via a variety of public outlets, the City of West Hollywood has presented a series of webinars and panels on topics relevant to the community. Visit www.weho.org/coronavirus for more information. 

For more information, please contact City of West Hollywood’s Community and Legislative Affairs Supervisor Andi Lovano at (323) 848-6333 or at [email protected]. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, please call TTY (323) 848-6496. 

The City of West Hollywood has declared a local emergency in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. West Hollywood City Hall is currently closed to the public and has suspended all in-person transactions. Most public City buildings and facilities remain closed. City Hall remains accessible for business and essential services with transactions to be conducted by phone (323) 848-6400 and via the City’s website at www.weho.org.

City of West Hollywood coronavirus updates are available at www.weho.org/coronavirusand the City encourages community members to follow @wehocity on Twitter and Facebook and Instagram and turn on notifications. For up-to-date news and events, follow the City of West Hollywood on social media, sign up for news updates at www.weho.org/email, and visit the City’s calendar of meetings and events at www.weho.org/calendar.

For reporters and members of the media seeking additional information about the City of West Hollywood, please contact the City of West Hollywood’s Public Information Officer, Sheri A. Lunn, at (323) 848-6391 or [email protected].