How has COVID-19 impacted people's MENTAL HEALTH?

Mental health is the state of psychological and social well-being that a person presents, not just the absence of disorders. Mental health includes an adequate perception of reality, the ability to relate to the environment and a good state of self-perception and self-esteem.

East state of well-being can be affected by many factors, among which stand out the stressful situations. An example of this is the situation triggered by coronavirus wish 2019 (Covid-19), an infectious disease that produces a severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) and for which the vaccination process of the world population has already begun.

Lives around the planet have changed to cope with this epidemic outbreak with drastic strategies to prevent it from spreading.

In this Psychology-Online article, we discuss how Covid-19 has impacted people's mental health and we offer strategies to take care of mental and emotional health during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Index

1. Consequences of Covid-19
2. Impact of Covid-19 on mental health
3. How to take care of mental and emotional health during the Covid-19 pandemic

The pandemic has affected all levels. The main consequences are:

• Health problems.
• Collapse of health systems.
• Quarantine, obligation to stay at home, with justified exceptions.
• Social distancing, obligation to maintain physical distance and limitation of social activities.
• Isolation, prohibition of social contact.
• Destabilization of the economy
• Job changes, from work overload to unemployment.
• Transmission of excessive information, sometimes incorrect.
• School closings.

The consequences derived from Covid-19 have thrown the population into a scenario so different and uncertain that exceeds your ability to handle. It is normal for mental health to be affected in the following ways:

• Increase in the prevalence of mental disorders.
• Increased severity of mental disorders already presented. For example, increased anxiety levels, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and increased delusions and hallucinations.
• Anxiety, worry and fear for the state of health of oneself and their loved ones.
• Panic to death.
• Complicated duels due to unexpected deaths.
• Anxiety, worry, and fear of financial loss.
• Stress and uncertainty, from living in a constantly uncertain situation.
• Frustration and anger at behaviors considered irresponsible by other people.
• Feelings of loneliness from social distancing.
• Increased consumption of substances, especially alcohol.
• Psychological discomfort: hopelessness, anger, irritability, confusion, grief, exhaustion, overflow, boredom, hypervigilance, tiredness ...
• Sleep disturbances.
• Alterations in appetite.
• Emotional restlessness.
• Increased risk of suicide, since suicidal thoughts and behaviors are associated with hopelessness and loneliness.
• Guilt, in case of being a contagion agent.

The negative psychological impact of Covid-19 is greater in the most vulnerable population, both for biological and social conditions. The consequences also depend on the mental, social and physical resources that are possessed to face the crisis, such as, for example, the homeless, without technological resources, people without social support networks, in a situation of precariousness...

To deal with this global pandemic, mental health associations and institutions have proposed some guidelines.

The most effective is enlist the help of professionals. Health professionals must be trained, updated and prepared.

There is no excuse not to see a professional, even with mobility restrictions.

At present, many people have decided to take out private health insurance, such as the Aegon health insurance, in large part because they offer advantages such as telemedicine, medical attention service 24 hours 365 days a year, care via WhatsApp or access to a wide medical staff, including health specialists mental.

Other recommendations are:

• Understand that stress and anxiety are normal reactions to threatening situations.
• Learn to regulate emotions through identification, listening, acceptance and detachment of emotions.
• Consult only reliable and official sources of information and never share information without verification.
• Do not dramatize or deny the situation.
• Perform physical exercise on a regular basis, as it helps the release of endorphins, relaxation and positive mood.
• Maintain the routine, establish daily schedules and habits.
• Take the air and the sun, even near a window, since sun exposure regulates the production of melatonin that intervenes in sleep cycles.
• Create and foster support networks.
• Participate in community activities to promote the perception of support and group cohesion.
• Maintain telephone communication with loved ones with the support of new technologies.
• Practice quiet activities of interest (reading, music, languages, games ...) that promote calm and a positive mood.
• Learn relaxation techniques, such as Jacobson's progressive muscle relaxation or diaphragmatic breathing, which consists of taking a deep breath, noticing how the abdomen swells.
• Practice mindfulness to focus attention to the present moment, to live with more awareness and with fewer distressing thoughts about the future.
• Transmit simple, clear and realistic messages to children and the elderly.

This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to How has Covid-19 impacted on people's mental health?, we recommend that you enter our category of Emotions.

• González-Rodríguez, A., & Labad, J. (2020). Mental health in times of COVID: reflections after the state of alarm. Clinical medicine, 155(9), 392-394.
• Hernández Rodríguez, J. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 on people's mental health. Electronic Center, 24(3), 578-594.
• Ribot Reyes, V. D. L. C., Chang Paredes, N., & González Castillo, A. L. (2020). Effects of COVID-19 on the mental health of the population. Habanera Journal of Medical Sciences, 19.