By Zenobia Ravji
The pandemic of COVID-19 has directly affected the health and well-being of many around the world. In the midst of this global pandemic, there is much talk about the urgent need for personal protective equipment, respirators, and the need for continued testing. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Center for Disease Control(CDC) have put out several tips and protocols to flatten the curve, such as social distancing. However, there is not much talk on the mental health crisis that has risen as a result of this pandemic.
For many, social distancing means not leaving home, going to school or work, and interacting with friends and co-workers. Therefore, as people continue to stay home in order to slow the spread of COVID-19, experts say that this form of social isolation can potentially take a great toll on their mental health.
Another cause for anxiety and distress include the lack of job security. Millions of Americans have already lost their jobs due to layoffs and furloughs as a result of the pandemic. The global economy has been greatly affected; some economists say this is the worst recession since the Great Depression. Financial distress and the uncertainty of job security have created a significant negative impact on the mental health of many people.
Another cause of distress and anxiety is the consistent worry of being infected with the virus and the constant vigilance about protecting our loved ones from contracting the virus. For instance, when people visit essential locations, such as, the grocery store they may be constantly worried that contact with strangers and food products might put them at risk for contracting COVID-19. Others, who may have thought nothing of a sneeze or a cough before, might now worry they are in the initial stages of infection, creating a hypervigilance about their health.
COVID-19 hasn’t just disrupted how our lives work now, it has disrupted how our minds work. People are constantly living in uncertainty, drawing on past experiences in order to try to make predictions about the future. This constant rumination about the uncertainty of the future put our brains in overdrive because much of what we have learned to expect in everyday life is suddenly different. And, now we are forced to adjust to a new set of rules and a new way of living.
The world was already in the midst of a mental health crisis, with many nations having rising rates of suicides and drug overdoses, even before the onset of COVID-19. The virus is certainly increasing the rates of mental health issues. For instance, in the United States, more than a quarter of people already live alone. Add social isolation to living alone, and, for many, this could be a mental health disaster as studies have linked loneliness to substance abuse and mood disorders.
Also, others may be stuck indoors with abusive partners or are living in households with strained relationships. In fact, those managing their mental health issues could risk relapse if they are not able to continue with in-person therapy sessions or access to rehabilitation centers.
In fact, the demand for remote therapy has increased. Talkspace, an online mobile therapy company, has seen a 65% increase in customers since the onset of COVID-19 in mid-February. Also, Winsberg’s Brightside, an app offering treatment and medication for anxiety and depression, has seen a 50% increase in new users since the start of the year.
However, the reality is that not everyone’s mental health needs can be addressed from afar. Some people require hands-on treatment, such as ECT or hospital-based mental health services. Right now, there is great chance that these services might be suspended because of new hospital policies or lack of resources.
Covid-19 is a silent global war. This time our trenches are our hospitals and our first responders, our doctors and nurses. Just as in conventional times of war, this pandemic has taken from us our sense of security, our well-being, and for many, our livelihoods. And, just as in war, it is inevitable that in these great troubling times mental health will deteriorate, falling victim to COVID-19.
For free e-book access to “Covid-19-Mental Health Issues” please visit www.nndcifoundation.org, which is made possible by Murali Rao, MD, Professor and Chair,
Department of Psychiatry, Loyola University Chicago