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In May 2020, the United Nations reported that stress and
anxiety levels had increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since
then, several waves of COVID-19 have left their mark on the world.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental health as
"a state of well-being in which a person realizes their abilities, can
cope with the everyday stresses of life, can work productively, and can
contribute to your community.
Mental health problems arise when people cannot cope well
with life's stresses. A pandemic is a stressor that few could have imagined dealing
with.
fear and isolation
Fear of contracting SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes
COVID-19, coupled with worries about economic effects, has caused anxiety and
stress.
Frontline workers, especially healthcare professionals, have
experienced burnout and chronic stress due to increased pressure.
Multiple lockdowns, physical distancing, and fear of
infection have increased isolation, loneliness, and anxiety, all of which Lee
Chambers, psychologist, and founder of Essentialize Workplace Well-being, says
are "catalysts massive" mental health problems. .
Other experts agree. According to Dr Adrian James, President
of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Global increase in mental health
problems In 2019, a study published in The Lancet Trusted Source reported that
around 12.5% of the world's population would have a mental health problem at
some point in their life. In March 2022, the WHO reported that, globally,
anxiety and depression increased by 25% in the first year of the pandemic.
Lee Chambers saw the evidence: "If I'm being honest,
from my perspective, the incidence of everything [mental health related] has
increased. […] It has been expanded for people who already have certain
conditions. They found less access to services and challenges in managing their
daily lives.
He added: "One thing that was continuously reported was
new incidents. People who have never identified with a mental health issue have
disclosed […] or, in surveys, said they have a hard time. This is interesting
because it shows that the impact goes beyond those already affected before
[COVID-19].
The onset of the pandemic appears to have had the most
significant impact on mental health. A European Parliamentary Research Service
report has highlighted the increase in mental health problems in many European
countries today.
Eight out of 10 people in Italy said they needed
psychological care; more than a third reported anxiety in the Netherlands.
Similar patterns were evident in the United States. In a
study of people aged 18 to 35, 80% of respondents reported significant
depressive symptoms, while 61% reported moderate or severe anxiety.
In April 2021, the National Institute of Mental Health
reported that rates of anxiety, depression, stress-related symptoms, substance
abuse, and suicidal thoughts were almost double those expected before the
pandemic. beautymagnestim
However, concerns that suicide rates may be rising appear unfounded
because, according to the reliable Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) source, they have fallen slightly. Dr. James told MNT that mental health
referrals to the NHS have reached record levels in the UK.
Who is most affected?
A Trusted Source analysis of more than 200,000 people in northern Europe found that younger respondents and those with a prior diagnosis of mental illness reported poorer mental health in the early months of the pandemic. However, mental health issues are not limited to these groups.
Sharon Greene, LCSW, who specializes in treating anxiety and
depression in children and adolescents at Providence Saint John Child and
Family Development Center in Santa Monica, Calif., told MNT about the
widespread impact of the pandemic. healthcaresblog
