The coronavirus pandemic came with a web of negative effects that affected the world economic trends, people’s socializing habits and mental health. The most recommended methods of fighting the coronavirus pandemic outbreak proposed by health officials in collaboration with the World Health Organisation was lockdowns, legal travel restrictions and banishment of unnecessary gatherings. Social life was dissolved in many countries with people stuck indoors, thereby creating a prison-like environment. In some states, lockdowns were activated for more than 3 months, especially when the virus was first dictated, triggering fear among all citizens. Medical personnel are worried about the impact of lockdowns and staying indoors on people’s mental health.
Mental health and social care become hot issues amid this global crisis which need an urgent response as they can enact devastating consequences if not addressed. The United Kingdom Prime Minister Johnson Boris made significant strides towards addressing those pertinent issues. In a press conference held during the first week of July, the Prime Minister unravelled plans to lift all legal covid-19 restrictions. On 19 July, England removed all the restrictions, including mandating people to wear masks, limiting the number of people gathering indoors, lifting the ban on sporting events and attending music concerts, thus ushering the country back to normality for the citizens.
In laying out the new strategies for curbing the virus, Boris mentioned how the restrictions took a toll on people’s lives, especially mental health and social life. He justified his plans by outlining that there must be a balance between risks of covid-19 and the risks of pursuing restrictions that placed people into isolation away from their families and loved ones while killing all forms of socializing with each other. The PM was advised by health officials who had carried out various researches which denoted that the psychological impact caused by covid-19 and the restrictions has been intense on all people.
All countries have reported on how their citizens’ mental health was affected during the pandemic. The US recorded a huge number of Americans who had symptoms of anxiety and depression, also France reported a surge in depression cases. Also, insomnia is becoming a burden to the public’s health, and it is reported to have elevated about 20% across the globe. The Philippines has recorded a lot of mental health issues after hospitals experienced many calls from depressed people and others who had suicidal thoughts [Source]. When the virus was first detected, people got into panic mode due to the death levels incurred in many countries. There was no cure; this became a serious issue that tapped into individuals’ emotions and psychological built. This trend incorporated young adults, senior citizens, workers and even those with no history of mental health disorder since all people were scared for their lives.
The Commonwealth Fund carried a survey from March to May 2020 accessible on [Source] and discovered that the global crisis intensified mental health instability in various countries. The survey showed the percentage of adults with mental distress. It gave a run-down of the figures as follows: Australia (23%), Canada (26%), France (24%), New Zealand (23%), the United Kingdom (26%) and the United States (33%), and lower rates of distress were recorded in the Netherlands (14%), Norway (10%) and Sweden (18%) [Source].
Some medical reports noted how certain people die because of stress and emotional turmoil after testing positive. Initially, before medical remedies for the virus were propounded, infected people were likely to have unstable mental conditions as testing positive could result in “death”. Just being idle in a room looking at technological devices all day proved to be psychologically stressful for the public, being divorced from outdoors. Virtual working is now the norm in many organizations but does not equate to the feeling experienced at the workplace with colleagues and workmates interacting together. Mental-health awareness seems to be taking centre stage in various organizations such as the World Health Organisations, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the UK’s Royal Family and the Global Seld-Care Federation.
Several solutions were proposed to remedy such issues. For mental stability and dealing with insomnia, Music Care is recommended in which patients listen to music clinically proven to promote relaxation and sleep. More so, people were encouraged to come up with family games for entertainment in the house or engage in activities such as drawing, painting, playing video games or sewing. It is wise for everyone to have an occupation that helps relax the mind and enables interaction between family members. Medical solutions have to be accessed at hospitals and clinics, therefore governments are urged to prioritize mental health at medical facilities because research by WHO in 2020 revealed how only 2% of national budgets were spent on mental health care departments [Source].
There is also a severe need to educate the masses on taking care of their mental stability and emotions because some people have no information regarding mental health. Also, admitting to having a mental breakdown is regarded as a sign of being “weak”, especially for men, so it becomes very difficult for them to reach out for help. Young adults and teenagers are also ashamed to disclose mental issues because it is a subject of ridicule at such an age. Simone Biles helped put the mental problems in the spotlight after withdrawing from Tokyo 2020 Olympics gymnastics to focus on her mental health. Soon after making such as decision, while the fans were anticipating getting a gold medal from her, series of online attacks were launched against her. But some athletes and former Olympians such as Aly Raisman, Laurie Hernandez, Adam Rippon and Michael Phelps defended Biles’s actions and applauded her for prioritizing her health. This indicates profound ignorance by most people who do not understand such issues and shows the need to educate people on mental health.
As the coronavirus continues to torment mankind, mental health issues will rise even more while social care is thumbed back further. Hence necessary stakeholders, together with countries’ leaders, need to exert more effort in funding departments that caters for mental health patients and, if possible, loosen restrictions to promote socializing and interacting with the outdoors.
