The Psychological Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic
The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the mental health of people has been Catastrophic, putting millions of people's mental health into shambles.
The Coronavirus pandemic has had a massive effect on the economic and social sphere of life, in every country. However, the impact of the virus on the mental health of people has had catastrophic effects putting millions of people’s mental health into shambles. It is also a psychological crisis, as the implications of living through isolation, financial crises, loss of jobs, unemployment, and losing a loved one due to a fatal virus, are bound to leave a huge long-term impact on everyone’s mental health.
Most of the countries have focused all of their resources on understanding the features of the virus which has led to the successful development of the Covid-19 vaccine in many countries. Billions of dollars have been spent by countries such as United States, United Kingdom, Russia, and China to develop the vaccine. However, in doing so there have not been efforts made to study the effects of the pandemic on the mental health of health care workers, people who have had covid, the general public, and people with existing mental disorders.
In the
case of healthcare workers, they have been the ones on the frontline and are directly on the brink of exposure. High levels of stress, anxiety, fear, insomnia, and post-traumatic stress disorder have been reported amongst them. In case of a catastrophe, such as bombings, earthquakes, etc doctors are exposed to trauma for a certain time period, which has adverse effects on their well-being. However, in the case of the Covid-19 crises, trauma has been an ongoing state for these frontline doctors for a year. Immense considerations need to be made to facilitate their well-being. Moreover, during these crucial times, our doctors were not even provided with adequate protective gear to protect themselves from the virus. PPE shortages and N-95 mask shortages put them in a more vulnerable state than they already were, risking their lives and that of their families. The failure of the government to accommodate doctors has intensified the adverse effects of the pandemic, on the mental health of our medical workers.
For people who have had Covid, there have been reports of huge psychological impacts caused due to lack of contact with families and loved ones due to quarantine and being admitted to the hospital alone, without any form of physical support from loved ones. High rates of post-traumatic symptoms have been reported in patients after being discharged from the hospital. The after-effects of Covid, which include, extreme body ache, weakness, and the inability to feel normal again have left people traumatized. Not only this, but some people have been infected for a second time, as the antibodies only last a couple of months. This has huge psychological impacts.
For the general public, the uncertainty and the unpredictability have constituted increased symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress caused by Covid-19. Life disruption, fear of the virus, fear of losing a loved one, and the fear of losing their jobs are the main triggers of anxiety. Moreover, students have also been greatly affected by the closure of schools, universities, etc, their grades and careers were on the line. Also, women with children, are also reported to have experienced anxiety or depressive disorders, due to not being able to meet their children during isolation or fearing their children’s lives.
The mental health of people with pre-existing mental health disorders has also taken a toll. These people are at risk of dysregulation of the stress system which can result in psychiatric disorders. People with pre-existing mental health disorders have reported increased symptoms and poorer access to services and supports since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Overall, the psychological toll of the disease is already apparent, and mental health systems have rapidly changed during the pandemic and sustained response to it needs to be coordinated urgently after the administration of the vaccine has been completed.
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