© 2025 Boise State Public Radio
NPR in Idaho
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

How One Idaho Doctor Says You Can Protect Your Mental Health During Crisis

/
Flickr
Dr. Ron Larsen of Optum Idaho says going for nature walks in your community is a good way to take care of your mental health, while maintaining social distancing and state guidelines as the coronavirus pandemic continues.

 

While stress is a part of life, long term stress can cause negative health outcomes, such as digestive and sleep disorders, headaches, and anxiety, depression and other mental illness. 

 

And with widespread isolation, as well as fear and uncertainty, the coronavirus pandemic is causing long-term stress in many individuals. 

Joining Idaho Matters live remotely is Dr. Ron Larsen, the Chief Medical Officer at Optum Idaho. 

 

As COVID-19 cases spread through the U.S. and Idaho, we’re committed to keeping you updated and informed. You can get updated info on cases, closures and how to stay healthy at any time on our Coronavirus news blog.

 

Idaho Matters is working on a story about how families are dealing with school closures during the coronavirus outbreak. Parents: What do your days look like now? Are you creating structure, or are you letting your kids have an extended spring break? Kids: What do you like about being at home, and what do you miss about school and being with your friends? Using your smartphone, please send us a voice memo with your family. Tell us about your daily routine, or about what your’e doing to stay distracted or learning. Send the voice memo to idahomatters@boisestate.edu. We might use your message in an upcoming show.

 

Have a question or comment for the show? Tweet @KBSX915 using #IdahoMatters

 

Member support is what makes local COVID-19 reporting possible. Support this coverage here.

Stay Connected
Molly Wampler is a newsroom intern at Boise State Public Radio. Originally from Berkeley, California, she just graduated from the University of Puget Sound in Washington state. There, Molly worked for her university's newspaper but is stoked to try her hand at and learn all there is to learn about radio journalism.

You make stories like this possible.

The biggest portion of Boise State Public Radio's funding comes from readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

Your donation today helps make our local reporting free for our entire community.