The pandemic has taken a toll. What can we learn from people with mental health challenges? (2024)

FAQs

What are the mental health issues after the pandemic? ›

Some people develop post-COVID conditions, also called Long COVID . These symptoms can include neurological symptoms such as difficulty thinking or concentrating, sleep problems, and depression or anxiety.

Stress and worry are common during a crisis. But something like the COVID-19 pandemic can push people beyond their ability to cope. In surveys, the most common symptoms reported were trouble sleeping and feeling anxiety or nervous. The number of people noting those symptoms went up and down in surveys given over time.

It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.

This literature review confirmed a few universal trends, i.e., increased stress, anxiety, and depression, during the pandemic. The rates of insomnia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and suicidal ideation also went up.

Because in-person events and interactions were limited during the pandemic, people missed out on these opportunities to develop social skills. While schools held classes remotely, children lost important time learning how to effectively relate with their peers and engage with authority figures like teachers.

Make leisure and contemplation a priority

Take some time to relax, contemplate, and pay attention to the positive things as you go about your day — even the small things. Write them down if you can, because they can be easy to forget. Then reflect on them later if your mood is in need of a boost.

This threat underscores the importance of raising awareness and educating the public about effective prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, as well as adopting communication practices that are built on empathy, transparency, equity, and respect.

How did lockdown affect mental health? ›

During the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, lockdowns and movement restrictions were thought to negatively impact population mental health, since depression and anxiety symptoms were frequently reported.

The pandemic has affected the public's mental health and well-being in a variety of ways, including through isolation and loneliness, job loss and financial instability, and illness and grief.

Unaddressed mental health problems can have a negative influence on homelessness, poverty, employment, safety, and the local economy. They may impact the productivity of local businesses and health care costs, impede the ability of children and youth to succeed in school, and lead to family and community disruption.

Raising awareness reduces the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness and seeking treatment. Without treatment, mental health disorders can reach a crisis point. As the World Health Organization states, “there is no health without mental health.”

Mental illness is a leading cause of disability. Untreated mental illness can cause severe emotional, behavioral and physical health problems. Complications sometimes linked to mental illness include: Unhappiness and decreased enjoyment of life.

Short-term impacts

Anxiety caused by concerns about outbreak and possible illness. Loneliness caused by self-isolation and social distancing. Stress caused by adjusting to new routines, financial and employment insecurity. Depression caused by lack of activity or exercise, loss of normal routine, increased caring role.

A review published at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic (Brooks et al., 2020) showed that quarantines could lead to deleterious psychological effects, including post-traumatic stress symptoms, confusion, anger, infection fears, frustration and boredom.

Statistics from the World Health Organization reveal a 13% increase in reported mental health disorders over the past 10 years.

It has been linked to fatigue, sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety, cognitive impairment and post-traumatic stress disorder, among other conditions. "Depression is the most prominent symptom we see," said Dr.