Covid-19: a mental health crisis

Abstract

Aim: To assess the various mental health issues during the Covid 19 and its impact on the public health.

Introduction: The world has been confronted by the epidemics like Asian flu, SARS, MERS, Ebola, etc but the current pandemic of COVID-19 is of a gigantic proportion, it has halted an entire humanity and brought the world to a standstill. The mathematical exponential growth of the viral illness is creating panic and nations are reeling under its impact.

Discussion: Emergencies like these affect the health, safety, and well-being at an individual and the community level like causing fear, uncertainty, insecurity, loneliness, and stigma.  Studies in disaster management have shown that public health along with mental health suffers for many days following the situation. The psychological effects of the pandemic can be understood keeping in mind the problems which predated the pandemic and the ones that are a consequence of the latter. Fear as a result of the facts and those based on a barrage of information/misinformation circulating in the media especially on social media platform. The public at large may also experience boredom, disappointment, and irritability under the isolation measures. A real threat of job losses, pay cuts, layoffs, economic hardships, slowdown of growth as a consequence of the pandemic can lead to a spiral of dejection, sadness, and distress. Anxiety; loneliness; difficulty in concentrating, low motivation and a state of distraction and alertness can lead to a negative emotional spiral, desperation, panic and fear. Lockdown restructuring of day-to-day activities and realignment. Specific health issues are related to special populations and sub sections of the populations. Simple steps to mitigate the crisis have to be undertaken. Steps of disaster management have to be implemented.

Conclusion: Pandemics like COVID have significant impact on individuals, families and countries. Individuals have to deal with consequences of infection and also measures adopted to contain the infection like quarantines, social distancing and lockdowns.