Introduction
Ever imagined a world where ‘social distancing’ wasn’t just a phrase but a way of life?
The time of COVID-19 didn’t just change how we greet each other; it brought a colossal increase in mental health issues. The damage caused by the coronavirus isn’t only about physical health; it’s caused a global mental health emergency. As we deal with the results of this pandemic in 2023, one thing is sure: the impact on our minds has been like never before.
From significant changes in how we live to seeing people we care about pass away, the tornado of these changes has deeply affected us all. It didn’t just impact our thoughts; it also reached our bodies, economies, and daily lives. Right now, we’re dealing with a mix of tough challenges like anxiety, PTSD, depression, panic attacks, and phobias as well as an increase in suicidal cases.
Now, let’s go back a little, shall we?
The time of COVID-19 wasn’t only about masks and hand sanitizers; it was like a class on how to change and avoid problems. Remember “social distancing”? It was our way to stay safe, but it also made us feel lonely. We know that being alone can hurt our minds, but what if the whole world’s way of living is about staying far apart?
As the world enters the post-pandemic phase, experts warn of a ‘’tsunami of psychiatric illness’’ affecting both strong and vulnerable individuals. Data shows a precise ’emotional epidemic curve,’ testing our mental well-being like never before.
So how do we navigate this new world of emotional challenges?
In this blog, let’s delve into the complexities of post-COVID mental health, uncovering strategies to regain balance in our forever-changed world.
What has given rise to mental illnesses?
Mental health challenges are on the rise, thanks to life’s complications, lifestyles, and surprises like the pandemic. It’s like a twist in a movie plot we didn’t expect.
Let’s dig into what’s causing this increase!
Social isolation:
The pandemic has brought out the most common psychological disorders like anxiety, panic, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, insomnia, digestive troubles, feeling low, and post-traumatic stress. These problems aren’t just because of the pandemic itself but also because of being alone for an extended period of time.
Impact of quarantine on mental health:
Quarantine has a significant and diversified impact on mental health, including anxiety, anger, depression, post-traumatic stress symptoms, alcohol abuse, and behavioral changes like as avoiding crowded locations and exercising cautious hand washing. These psychological effects might last for months or even years after the quarantine period has ended.
Impact of social distancing on mental health:
The effects of social distancing on mental health can be significant. Loneliness, anxiety, depression, domestic violence, child abuse, and substance abuse can increase due to it. With prolonged social distancing, rising unemployment, and economic pressure, a major mental health crisis can unfold.
Vulnerable population:
People at higher risk include kids, older folks, those without jobs or homes, COVID-19 survivors, healthcare workers, folks with past mental health issues, local workers, pregnant women, those with disabilities or illnesses, migrants, refugees, the LGBTQ+ community, and people from different races and backgrounds.
New-onset mental health issues:
The challenges brought on by COVID-19 are multi-faceted, ranging from the emotional trio of stress, fear, and loneliness to enduring neuropsychiatric symptoms such as acute ischaemic stroke, headache, dizziness, ataxia, delirium, and seizures—often triggered by the virus’s cytokine storms.
Beyond this, the pandemic landscape includes issues like stigma, discrimination, and hate crimes. Risk factors add another layer of complexity, encompassing heart-wrenching experiences like the loss of a parent, caregiver, or loved one, alongside misinformation, disrupted peer support due to school or workplace closures, academic setbacks, medical comorbidities, uncertainties, stigma, prolonged isolation, social rejection, work stress, burnout, direct contact with active cases, and the weight of economic burdens.
What are the most common illnesses?
Frequent mental health challenges encompass a spectrum of concerns, with anxiety spanning from 6.5% to 63%, depression ranging from 4% to 31%, and post-traumatic stress disorder covering a range of 12.1% to 46.9%.
Notably, female patients and those admitted to intensive care often experienced heightened levels of fatigue, pain, anxiety, and depression. The broader impact extended to a diminished quality of life for up to three months following COVID-19, underscoring the far-reaching effects of the virus on overall well-being.
Mental health issues post COVID-19 recovery:
During the initial acute phase of the illness, delirium is a common occurrence. Notably, survivors of critical illness exhibit lasting psychiatric challenges, facing significant levels of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder even a year after their discharge.
Neurocognitive issues, including compromised attention, concentration, memory, and mental processing speed, persist in the majority of patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome at the one-year mark.
Furthermore, individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 have displayed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, or anxiety. Anxiety and depression can still be typical even six months after recovering from COVID-19.
Impact of Recession on mental health:
The impact of the economic recession is closely linked to a rise in the occurrence of mental health disturbances. Factors such as unemployment, uncertain job situations, lower socio-economic status, and existing psychiatric challenges appear to play a significant role in shaping mental health issues following an economic downturn.
Elif
The aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic can have a prolonged and enduring impact on mental health, stretching across several years beyond the pandemic’s end. This is expected to bring about a rise in common psychiatric disorders and suicide rates during the post-pandemic phase.
It’s crucial to boost the availability of mental health services, including telepsychiatry, early evaluation, treatment, and psychosocial support. This should involve targeted screening and assistance for specific groups, like frontline healthcare providers, while also addressing the stigma around mental health.
According to the WHO’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) framework, rehabilitation programs should be tailored to enhance individual functioning across three levels: physical and mental well-being, engagement in activities, and the influence of surroundings and personal factors, all aimed at improving overall quality of life.
Given the uncertainties surrounding the pandemic’s impact on mental health, post-pandemic readiness becomes a challenge. To tackle this, incorporating mental health preparedness strategies is recommended.
To make psychological care more accessible, the development of telepsychiatry and online counseling is essential, particularly through community health service centers, ensuring ease of access, especially for vulnerable populations. Mental health professionals should prioritize addressing the negative consequences of isolation, focusing on managing anxiety, distress, and post-traumatic stress symptoms.
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