News 12’s Rich Barrabi was joined this morning by clinical psychologist Dr. Liz Matheis to talk about the pandemic and the effect it's had on people’s mental health.

The COVID-19 pandemic is still not over and the lasting impact it had on mental health continues to change. Because of isolation and state restrictions, many struggled to cope with missing out on interaction with friends and family, leading to overwhelming stress and trauma. Matheis says that people should take it slow with transitioning back to how they used to interact.

Positive COVID cases across New York state are very low, but mask-wearing is still very much a big discussion. How can people adjust to those who are on both sides?

Matheis says that the mental health of young people is on a whole other level from where it was two years ago. How are they going to respond to their surroundings now and their fear level?

What should parents be doing if they see their kids are struggling?