Basics of Mental Health

Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has turned everyone’s lives upside down as what will happen next. It has created turmoil and taken a toll on even the optimistic people who were confident of what to do next and has planned for their future. Normal life has become a question mark in this clueless pandemic situation. Added to the fear of contracting the virus in a pandemic such as COVID-19 are the significant changes to our daily lives as our movements are restricted in support of efforts to slow down the spread of the virus. Faced with new realities of working from home, temporary unemployment, home-schooling of children, and lack of physical contact with other family members, friends, and colleagues; makes it highly necessary to look after our mental and physical health.

People are driven by stress, anxiety on one side and are going through depression due to sudden loss of their loved one, their job, low wages, deduction of salary, unable to go back to their native places, and even to meet their basic necessities as well. On the other hand, people already suffering from anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and other forms of chronic mental illness who are under treatment are some of the most vulnerable right now in terms of being left alone or in isolation and having the potential for self-destructive behaviour due to inconsistent support and a disrupted routine and hence lack of access to the treatment.

Various health organisations are concerned about this situation as how to address the mental health issues and needs of the population. Even though many protocols have been framed but still people find it difficult to follow the instructions and precautions as it affects their daily routine life. The new normal has created a chaos in their lives.

Who are affected?

Many people may have mental health concerns such as anxiety and depression during this pandemic and their thoughts and feelings might change over time. Compared to patients with negative COVID-19 test or COVID-19 symptoms, patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis were more likely to experience a new onset of a mental health condition. Anxiety and major depression were the most common type of mental health condition among patients, regardless of whether they had a COVID-19 diagnosis or not.

Public health emergencies may affect the health, safety, and well-being of both individuals (for example, insecurity, confusion, emotional isolation, and stigma) and communities (owing to economic loss, work and school closures, inadequate resources for medical response, and deficient distribution of necessities). These effects may translate into a range of emotional reactions (such as distress or psychiatric conditions), unhealthy behaviors (such as excessive substance use), and noncompliance with public health directives (such as home confinement and vaccination) in people who contract the disease and in the general population.      

Some groups may be more vulnerable than others to the psychosocial effects of pandemics. In particular, people who contract the disease, those at heightened risk for it (including the elderly, people with compromised immune function, and those living or receiving care in congregate settings), are at increased risk for adverse psychosocial outcomes. Health care providers are also particularly vulnerable to emotional distress in the current pandemic, given their risk of exposure to the virus, concern about infecting and caring for their loved ones, shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE), longer work hours, and involvement in emotionally and ethically fraught resource-allocation decisions.

Despite one’s best efforts, one might find himself/herself feeling helpless, sad, angry, irritable, hopeless, anxious, or afraid. He/she may have trouble in concentrating on typical tasks, changes in appetite, body aches and pains, or difficulty sleeping or may struggle to face routine chores. They can also fall as a victim to compulsively checking the news often and scrolling for something more definitive as what is happening around and becoming more panic struck. If these signs and symptoms exists and last for several days in a row and make you miserable and cause problems in your daily life to carry out normal responsibilities, then it is time to ask for help. Considering the widening economic crisis and numerous uncertainties surrounding this pandemic, suicidal ideation may emerge and necessitate immediate consultation with a mental health professional or referral for possible emergency psychiatric hospitalization. Many anxiety sufferers are prone to catastrophizing, which can result in behaviours like panic buying or trying different medications and treatments to cure or prevent COVID-19.

Prevention and Self-care practice

Prevention efforts such as screening for mental health problems, psychoeducation, and psychosocial support should focus on the affected and other groups at risk for adverse psychosocial outcomes.

One of the important coping strategies by the psychiatrists is to feel the fear and identify what is causing the fear and try to alleviate it by taking a deep breath and grounding yourself. Self-care practices help us to maintain a good health, fit body and peaceful mind. Many of the experiences of patients, family members, and the public can be appropriately normalized by providing information about usual reactions to this kind of stress and by pointing out that people can and do manage even during dire circumstances. Health care providers can offer suggestions for stress management and coping (such as structuring activities and maintaining routines), link patients to social and mental health services, and counsel patients to seek professional mental health assistance when needed. Since media reports can be emotionally disturbing, contact with pandemic-related news should be monitored and limited. Trying to limit the media use and logging off all gadgets prior to 2hrs before sleep is highly essential. Many parents commonly underestimate their children’s distress hence open discussions should be encouraged to address children’s reactions and concerns. Talking to your loved ones through virtual platforms and thus keeping social contact also provides psychological support.

Health care systems needs to address the concerns of the health care providers by regular monitoring systems, framing schedules, if needed alter the schedules and creating a positive environment that offers psychosocial support required. For a long run, health system leaders and health care professionals should be provided education and training regarding the psychosocial issues that arise especially during the pandemic and disaster situations.

Your current strong feelings may fade when the pandemic is over, but stress will not disappear from your life when the health crisis of COVID-19 ends. Continue these self-care practices to take care of your mental and physical health and increase your ability to cope with life's ongoing challenges. Despite all the challenges we are facing during this COVID-19, it maybe physical, psychological, social, financial; we still have our own purpose and goals in our life to live and move way forward with positivity. Stay strong and face the situation. Focus on what you can control and accept what you cannot change. Adapt and adjust to the new normal life. When we are nourished in mind, body, and spirit, we have more of ourselves to offer to the world.