Coronavirus Disease has spread rapidly and widely nationwide. The disease infected more than 30 thousand people and resulted in seven hundredths deaths (Xie, L., 2020). Human to human transmissions were identified and the number of confirmed cases kept increasing. The impact of COVID-19, lead to a psychological impact that resulted in immediate mental health problems. People suffered from the life-threatening infections, as they witnesses other patients suffering as well.
Let’s face it 2020, hit us with a curve ball when COVID-19 impacted the world. With the number of infected cases rapidly increasing, we watched people suffer from the virus. However, not only was the virus affecting health. The outbreak of COVID-19 resulted in people experiencing high levels of stress that potentially lead to mental health problems such as anxiety, depression and post traumatic disorder(article). The epidemic affected people, mentally and physically, leaving us with only high levels of stress and anxiety.
With the cases of covid-19, increasing, COVID-19 affected work environments. Especially those that were front line with the virus such as hospital. Medical students judged the outbreak more serious than non-medical students. However, researcher shows that medical students experienced fewer mental health problems than non-medical students (Xie, L., 2020). Medical professionals were trained on psychological mechanism during epidemics that constructed an effective psychological support system (Xie, L., 2020). Although medical health professional were more prone to the virus since they were working front line. However, since they had psychological trainings, this led to fewer impacts on their mental health. Therefore, it is proven that psychological mechanisms lead to effective coping during a pandemic.
The field of psychology, has many benefits that help people cope with mental health disorders. When COVID-19 took a nationwide hit, people were experiencing high levels of stress and anxiety that lead to an arises in mental health disorders. However, research shows that if people are educated on psychological mechanisms this led to fewer cases of mental health. Therefore, it is important to educate people on psychological mechanisms because it leads to positive impacts on their mentally.
References
Xie, L., Luo, H., Li, M., Ge, W., Xing, B., & Miao, Q. (2020). The immediate psychological effects of coronavirus disease 2019 on medical and non-medical students in china. International Journal of Public Health, doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/10.1007/s00038-020-01475-3
The mental health challenges brought on by the pandemic are huge. Parents with children at home are seem to be having the most difficult time. We are watching our children lose all of their social interaction. Many of us are working from home but we are trying to juggle distance learning with not losing our own jobs for lack of production because your child distance learning is almost a full time job itself. Those of us who haven’t lost our jobs (or have gotten new jobs) are the lucky ones. Many are also dealing with the anxiety of not knowing if they are going to get more unemployment assistance or any financial support to get through this and are constantly worried about how we they are going to continue to feed and shelter their kids. Make that parent a single parent like myself and that struggle multiplies.
Aside from all of these things a Harvard study cited in the New York times states that “Sixty-three percent of parents said they felt they had lost emotional support during the pandemic (Grose, 2020). Families are dealing with all of this extra stress while stuck at home all the time with their children that are falling apart and they have less emotional support than ever.
What is the answer though?
Grose, J. (2020, September 9). The pandemic is a ‘mental health crisis’ for parents.
New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/09/parenting/mental-health-parents-coronavirus.html
There is no doubt that COVID 19 has put serious stress on everyone. Between the fear of becoming ill, working from home, or not working at all, having to homeschool children, or taking care of sick or elderly family members, times are tough. Its no wonder that, according to a report published in August 2020 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “U.S. adults reported considerably elevated adverse mental health conditions associated with COVID-19.” There are so many risk factors associated with this pandemic that has contributed to the spike in mental health issues. Oddly enough, some of the most commonly used forms of coping, are some of the very things we cannot do and that is causing distress. Social isolation or social distancing for instance. According to an article posted on the medicalxpress.com website in which they cite a study being conducted by researchers at The University of Manchester and Swansea University, early results show that social isolation and distancing has had a marked impact on mental health and emotional wellbeing stating that “social distancing is leading to heightened feelings of anxiety and depression amongst the general public.” We have to distance to save lives but the lack of socialization is hurting our mental health.
Mental Health, Substance Use, and Suicidal Ideation During the COVID-19 Pandemic – United States, June 24–30, 2020. (2020, August 13). Retrieved September 24, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6932a1.htm
Addelman, M. (2020, April 20). COVID-19 social distancing having significant impacts on mental health, study shows. Retrieved September 28, 2020, from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-covid-social-distancing-significant-impacts.html