As more and more people
are forced to stay at home in self‐isolation to prevent the further flow of the
pathogen at the societal level, governments must take the necessary measures to
provide mental health support as prescribed by the experts. Professor Tiago
Correia highlighted in his editorial as the health systems worldwide are
assembling exclusively to fight the COVID‐19 outbreak, which can drastically
affect the management of other diseases including mental health, which usually
exacerbates during the pandemic. The
psychological state of an individual that contributes toward the community
health varies from person‐to‐person and depends on his background and
professional and social standings.
Quarantine and
self‐isolation can most likely cause a negative impact on one’s mental health.
A review published in The Lancet said that the separation
from loved ones, loss of freedom, boredom, and uncertainty can cause a
deterioration in an individual’s mental health status. To
overcome this, measures at the individual and societal levels are required.
Under the current global situation, both children and adults are experiencing a
mix of emotions. They can be placed in a situation or an environment that may be
new and can be potentially damaging to their health.
Children, away from their
school, friends, and colleagues, staying at home can have many questions about
the outbreak and they look toward their parents or caregivers to get the
answer. Not all children and parents respond to stress in the same way. Kids
can experience anxiety, distress, social isolation, and an abusive environment
that can have short‐ or long‐term effects on their mental health. Some common
changes in children’s behavior can be :
·
Excessive crying
and annoying behavior
·
Increased sadness,
depression, or worry
·
Difficulties with
concentration and attention
·
Changes in, or
avoiding, activities that they enjoyed in the past
·
Unexpected
headaches and pain throughout their bodies
·
Changes in eating
habits
To help offset negative
behaviors, requires parents to remain calm, deal with the situation wisely, and
answer all of the child’s questions to the best of their abilities. Parents can
take some time to talk to their children about the COVID‐19 outbreak and share
some positive facts, figures, and information. Parents can help to reassure
them that they are safe at home and encourage them to engage in some healthy
activities including indoor sports and some physical and mental exercises.
Parents can also develop a home schedule that can help their children to keep
up with their studies. Parents should show less stress or anxiety at their home
as children perceive and feel negative energy from their parents. The
involvement of parents in healthy activities with their children can help to
reduce stress and anxiety and bring relief to the overall situation.
Doctors, nurses, and
paramedics working as a front‐line force to fight the COVID‐19 outbreak may be
more susceptible to develop mental health symptoms. Fear of catching a disease,
long working hours, unavailability of protective gear and supplies, patient
load, unavailability of effective COVID‐19 medication, death of their
colleagues after exposure to COVID‐19, social distancing and isolation from
their family and friends, and the dire situation of their patients may take a
negative toll of the mental health of health workers. The working efficiency of
health professionals may decrease gradually as the pandemic prevails. Health
workers should take short breaks between their working hours and deal with the
situation calmly and in a relaxed manner.
What should we keep in
mind :
·
Understanding the
effects of the COVID‐19 outbreak on the mental health of various populations
are as important as understanding its clinical features, transmission patterns,
and management.
·
Spending time
with family members including children and elderly people, involvement in
different healthy exercises and sports activities, following a
schedule/routine, and taking a break from traditional and social media can all
help to overcome mental health issues.
·
Public awareness
campaigns focusing on the maintenance of mental health in the prevailing
situation are urgently needed.
·
STAY STRONG THIS
SHALL TO PASS ! :))
