South Kent News

In late April, Sen. Peter MacGregor (R-Rockford) put out a press release on MiSenateGOP. In the statement, MacGregor spoke about the toll that COVID-19 is taking on the mental health of Michigan residents.

“Beyond the headlines of the COVID-19 crisis are the untold stories of how stress and uncertainty affect people’s mental health,” said Senator MacGregor in the statement. “Restrictions on our movement, assembling, jobs and daily routines compound the situation.”

In the release, MacGregor showed empathy for those who have been laid off during the coronavirus pandemic, while also acknowledging the risks that frontline workers are taking. 

“My heart breaks for the single moms who lost jobs that were deemed nonessential, and for the laid-off dads who worked hard so their wives could stay home with the kids,” said MacGregor on MiSenateGOP. “The employed are not without consequence, either. Physicians, nurses, first responders, grocery clerks, fast-food workers, tellers and others who remain on the job bear the anxiety of becoming infected with every shift.”

MacGregor also spoke about a tele-town hall meeting with Dr. Adam London, who is the director for the Kent County Health Department. During the meeting, Dr. London discussed the mental health challenges faced by citizens during the pandemic. 

“Mental health concerns have consistently been listed near the top of our community’s priorities whenever they are surveyed,” London said, according to MacGregor's statement. “Our county and the state were faced with suicide and overdose epidemics long before anyone had heard of COVID-19. We need to be mindful that the stresses of this crisis are going to further exacerbate those problems.” 

MacGregor ended his statement by focusing more on having hope and being able to move forward in the future. 

“As we begin to see signs of hope, Michigan will find a safe path forward, focusing on the health of our residents,” said MacGregor in the press release. “However, this will not be business as usual. As a state, we need to be open to different methods of delivering services and products, with particular focus on the big three: social distancing, wearing masks and washing our hands. We can do this!”

“May God continue to bless our Michigan communities and our nation as we fight to overcome this horrible pandemic," he concluded.