These can be stressful times.

Local health officials are concerned for those on home confinement for the past month due to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s stay at home orders in an effort to minimize the spread of COVID-19.

"Our biggest worry is the isolation which can increase depression and, at time, the risk of suicide," said David Love, who is the executive director of Valley Community Counseling Services.

Two Oakdale girls, ages 15 and 17, were recently found dead near the Stanislaus River. Police said in a press conference ruled suicide as the cause of death.

"In the last four weeks, we've had five reports of suicides in our region," said Love, indicating the risk factors of stress, anxiety and depression as possibly being elevated during this period of home isolation.

According to Leslie Agostini, the stressful environment extends to families having to deal with unemployment coupled with the frustration of having to teach their children at home.

For the estimated 25,000 students at Manteca Unified, they’ve had to adapt to distance learning while missing the day to day interaction with classmates, friends and teachers.

"They need someone to reach out to for help," said Agostini, who is the Coordinator of Health Services at MUSD.

Students and even family members, in this case, can call the school district's health services at 209.858.0782.

"Services for counseling are for everybody," said Agostini, who bumped up the nursing staff to nine at nine different school sites.

Prior to the stay at home orders, students had resources such as on-site counseling on campus.

Health Services have reached out via Microsoft Teams, which is available on the electronic devices of each student and used for distance learning.

"Our focus is with students. We can refer all others to other counseling services," she said.

Included is Valley Community Counseling Services, Inc., which is a non-profit group that provides a variety of counseling therapy and educational services to those in Tracy, Lodi, Stockton and Manteca.

Love and his Manteca connections began VCCS some 45 years ago.  Among those involved were John Harris, who worked San Joaquin County probation back then, and the late Antone Raymus, Love said.

VCCS and its Manteca Children's Mental Health Clinic under Director Teresa Viles Reed -- they're working in conjunction with MUSD -- offers online services through the clinic or the school district.

The office for Valley Community Counseling / Manteca Children's Health Clinic is located at 129 E. Center St. Suite 3.

The call number is 209.239.5553.

"Families and young people can call our number or reach out to their school," Love added.