Mental health is of utmost importance, especially in times of crisis. COVID-19 pandemic has affected everyday life in unprecedented ways. It is a major health crisis that has changed the lives of millions globally. Fear of infection, loneliness, distress, boredom, confinement, longer duration of quarantine, inadequate information, and financial loss are a few stressors that played a role in aggravating poor mental health.
The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, is infectious and spreads easily among humans. After emerging initially in the city of Wuhan, China in late December 2019, it manifested as an outbreak that led to serious public health. The WHO declared it as a global pandemic due to the substantial global-wide spread of the disease affecting many countries and by 14 February 2021, over 108 million cases were confirmed globally.
In response to the global health crisis, lockdown and quarantine measures were implemented by international and government health organizations to contain the rapid spread of the virus. Although quarantine has been a successful means adopted worldwide to control outbreaks, it represented an unfavorable experience for the public. Limited freedom, restricted movements, separation from dear ones, stress, fear of an uncertain future, depression, emotional disturbance, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and irritability exacerbated negative psychological impact. COVID-19 itself leads to mental and neurological complications, such as agitation, delirium, and stroke.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic may have brought many changes to how you live your life, it is very important for us to keep in mind that we need to be sensitive in how we liaise about the pandemic. Information overload, rumors, and misinformation can make your life feel out of control and make it unclear what to do making it a historic opportunity to reimagine what mental healthcare means. For all of the aforesaid reasons, it is very important to learn self-care strategies and get the right care you need to cope. So remember, good mental health is of utmost importance for overall health and well-being.
