Shutdowns are meant to save lives. But for many workers, the cure may be worse than the disease

After Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's June 26 order closed the state's bars, in reaction to a recent spike in COVID-19 cases, Amanda Walters was among many LinkedIn members to voice dissent. The argument? Government-mandated business shutdowns are doing more harm than good.

"The cost of living isn't going down, yet most of us can not go to work. On top of that, our mental health suffers, too," wrote Walters, who is a bartender based in the San Antonio area. "It literally drives people crazy not being able to work or even go places."

Meanwhile, the U.S. continues to see record numbers of new COVID-19 cases, with nearly 53,000 new infections on Wednesday. This national spike, which is now well past the previous peak we reached in April, has made the case for stay-at-home orders and restrictions on businesses clear to many. 

Stay-at-home orders has resulted in unemployment rates not seen since The Great Depression. At the same time, government officials across the U.S. are realizing that avoiding lockdowns and other precautionary measures will likely extend the crisis, yielding even more economic pain.

A wave of states have begun to reverse their reopening plans — two months after many of them lifted restrictions on business, without meeting the White House's guidelines for doing so — as the national death toll climbs past 128,000.

Make no mistake, though. The adverse effect on mental health that Walters mentioned, as the global pandemic imposes extended periods of isolation and economic vulnerability, is all too real.

In Walters' native Texas, Renee Vania-Tomczak serves as the CEO of Mental Health America Greater Houston, which provides free online screening for mental health.

"Just between April and May, we saw a 623 percent increase in total moderate anxiety and a 285 percent increase in severe anxiety, and that was before the surge in cases. So, we anticipate that it's going to continue," Vania-Tomczak told Houston TV station KTRK.

In March, the Disaster Distress Helpline, which is run by a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, saw an 891% in calls, compared to the same month a year prior, per CNN.

On Wednesday, the Washington Post reported that suspected overdoses were up 42% in May, compared to the same month before, citing the Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program.

These are just a few examples of reports from all across the nation warning of a rise in suicides and mental health issues.

"We see very troubling signs across the nation," Dr. Elinore McCance-Katz, assistant secretary at Department of Health and Human Services, told USA Today. "There's more substance abuse, more overdoses, more domestic violence and neglect and abuse of children."

As these reports emerge, the clock is winding down on the relief measures that have shielded many Americans from the worst. The expansion of unemployment benefits is set to expire in late July, while eviction moratoriums across the country are going out the window as well.

So, with COVID-19 infections on the rise, while the country is weeks away from the expiration of special unemployment benefits, a sense of despair is setting in. 

"If we can't take care of our families, it won't matter whether we live or die, because we will all die," wrote Jacob Dewitt, a Texas-based dishwasher who criticized the state's new restrictions on business. "The longer it drags out, the more suffering."

How have you been affected by the global pandemic and stay-at-home orders? Share your thoughts in the comments below.