At a time when everyone is talking about the COVID-19 pandemic, and the whole world is fighting against the virus, we need to understand that it is not only affecting our body but also affecting our minds. It is possible to detect the virus in the human body after a test but it will take time to understand the physiological effects of it. Every person is feeling some degree of stress and anxiety due to social distancing and disruption of normality.
It may be possible that those who are living with depression and other mental illnesses are at a greater risk as their conditions may become worse during this period.
Many people who have mental health issues do not want to talk about it openly. It affects the thinking, emotions and behaviour and distress and problems in social, work or any family activity can be observed. Mental health is the base for our communication and self-esteem and is also pivotal to personal and emotional well-being and relationships.
It is important to understand that mental illness does not discriminate. It can affect anyone regardless of your age, gender, geography, income, social status, race, religion, sexual orientation, background or other aspects of cultural identity.
Either we are survivors or victims at this time. It is difficult to imagine the mental health of people, especially the medical staff, family members of those who are dying due to the virus, and migrants workers. Due to the lockdown, social distancing, quarantine, self-isolation, and gender-based violence, we can all feel a sense of nervousness, fear of contamination, the difference in our behaviour, sleep disorders, feeling of helplessness, loneliness, confusion, anger, hopelessness, feeling sad and empty and thinking about the financial burden and uncertainty about the future.
The whole world is saying that lockdown is the best way to fight the virus, but it is going to be a difficult task to deal with mental illness as it affects overall health. As per a study conducted by CIGNA, A Global Health Service Company in the US, in 2018, “loneliness has the same impact on mortality as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, making it even more dangerous than obesity.”
No one knows how long this situation will last and due to this uncertainty, the situation is becoming dangerous. When doctors are advising to increase our immunity, we cannot ignore the reports which say that stress and anxiety can decrease immunity.
As per research published in The Lancet “apart from disrupting usual mental health care, the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to further psychological trauma. The huge toll such trauma can take on medical professionals, which can include delusional episodes and suicidality, in countries as deeply struck by COVID-19 as Italy is of particular concern”.
According to recent data from Healthline and YouGov’s COVID-19 Tracker, “Americans are reporting significant increases in symptoms of depression and anxiety due to the pandemic.”
We can’t forget that India reported 1,34,516 suicides in 2018 and we still don’t have any specific ministry to deal with mental health issues.
No doubt that it is a problematic time for all of us, but at the same time it is our duty to take care of our mental health as well as others. We should not discriminate with any patient and we have to give respect to everyone and their family. Those who are facing mental health issues can find someone and try to communicate and interact with them.
Be patient with yourself and listen to music. Remember to breathe and do yoga. Set a routine and make social contact. It is necessary for people and the government to understand, realise, recognise, and consider the issue of mental illness.