The COVID-19 outbreak has had a dramatic and lasting impact on global mental health. Certainly as the pandemic raged more than ever before, so did the psychological burdens on communities. Multiple reports and surveys reported that anxiety rates had gone through the roof to alarming levels, depression was at an all-time high and it was evident that there were mental health needs waiting to be developed immediately. In the midst of this crisis, we recognized the need for mental health literacy, social supports and coping strategies; A call to action as people and systems shifted in response to a new reality.
The Increase in Anxiety and Depression
The pandemic has caused an increase in cases of anxiety and depression worldwide. World Health Organization (WHO) During the first year of the pandemic, levels of anxiety surged 25%. This increase is a result of the stressors associated with COVID-19, such as concerns about transmission of infection to themselves or others, financial hardship and social isolation.
And a Lancet study found that depression was twice as common in some countries, with up to 1 in 5 adults having symptoms of anxiety or depression. This surge illuminated the call for mental health services and responses. For many, the pandemic compounded previous mental health concerns or created new struggles in people who had been able to maintain their well-being.
The Significance of Social Isolation
Social isolation was identified as an important mental health consideration during the pandemic. Lockdowns and social distancing measures series left many of us feeling more isolated from family and friends. One study found that people who reported high levels of social isolation were 50% more likely to progress from subthreshold depression symptoms to full-blown major depression in follow-up measurements, while those without serious social interaction problems reportedly got better on their own.
Vulnerable populations like the elderly and those who lived alone felt particularly isolated. In fact, 42% of older adults surveyed by AARP said they had felt lonely at some point in the past year because of the pandemic — making clear the necessity for efforts to bridge connections and create a nurturing network.
Healthcare Systems and Mental Health Resources
The pandemic put unprecedented strain on healthcare resources globally and as a result, mental health programs have been re-evaluated. Most people had certain obstacles to mental health care, such as service scarcity and psychological help-seeking stigma.
At this time, telehealth was beginning to emerge as a critical resource in providing access to mental health professionals from the safety of their own home. During the early months of the pandemic, telehealth visits for mental health services soared 300 percent in one study published in Psychiatric Services. The move to virtual care means that people had much more access and a way to feel supported even when socially distancing.
Why Mental Health Awareness Matters
Optimal counseling to reduce the psychological impacts of COVID-19 Mental health awareness has had a key role in addressing what everyone was expecting. We need to promote public health and change the way we view mental illness so that people seek help when they need it. Promoting mental health resources and coping strategies emerged as a key objective in warding off the negative impact of the pandemic on emotional well-being.
According to a National Alliance on Mental Illness report, 70% of those surveyed were more likely to talk about mental health through exposure and awareness during pandemic publications. This change in perspective began to break down stigma and made it more acceptable for people to ask for help.
Coping Strategies and Resilience-Building
In reaction to the mental health crisis, numerous coping means and resilience ways have been publicized. Mental health experts also underlined the need for self-care, such as exercise, meditation and keeping in touch with others.
More specifically, working out lessened signs of anxiety and depression by a whopping 30% according to research conducted by the American Psychological Association. Mindfulness interventions, including strategies for meditation and diaphragmatic breathing, have also been reported to be useful in improving emotion regulation and resilience. Compared to those who did not practice mindfulness, individuals engaging in mindfulness training said their ability to handle stress improved throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
The key of creating a supportive network also came to the surface. His friends, his family and the community as a whole would be crucial in sending emotional support and resources his way. Research has shown that those with good mental health-included social supports were upwards of 25% less likely to experience psychological distress.
Trauma Recovery and Mental Health Care
Trauma recovery, of course, was always a pertinent topic — including during COVID-19. This was a global event of collective trauma that the pandemic brought to consciousness. The emergence of the lived experience highlights the importance of identifying broader mental health care strategies for treating long-term psychological sequelae that may have their origins in this trauma.
Trauma-informed care practices began to be integrated into the work of health professionals, positing humane responses and services that understood the need for acknowledging a person’s history. They used health provider training as an opportunity to help resonant the “trauma-mental health glass” of their colleagues so they could be more honorable healers.
The Future of Mental Health Care
While the world continues its slow journey out of a pandemic, there are profound lessons to be learned for the future of mental health care. We will place a critical emphasis on the integration of mental health resources into primary care settings to provide individuals with a holistic support system.
To address the increased awareness and efforts towards improving public health, we are likely to see ongoing evolution of public health initiatives promoting mental health access and emotional well-being. Such increased focus on preventative mental health care would mean that people would look at their mental well-being as something similar to physical exercise and diet; something we must work on, and can get some help with, before it gets serious.
Additionally, the rise of telehealth services is likely here to stay in mental health care given its popularity. Post-pandemic, the ease of access and availability of virtual mental health care will be a boon to people, especially those who live in rural or underserved locations. As research has demonstrated that telehealth can meet the mental health burden and satisfaction with virtual care was reported by 80% of patients.
Dealing with the Stigma of Mental Health
Current efforts to address perceptions of mental health will support creating an atmosphere that encourages people to seek assistance. Society as a whole will need to destigmatize mental illness through public campaigns encouraging frank discussions around the topic.
By telling personal stories and encounters, these campaigns purpose to encourage folks to share their particular challenges and find aid. 60% of people who are faced with mental health problems believe that they are constantly being judged or stigmatized, in light of research reports.
Positive Mental Health During COVID-19: The Long-Term Implications and the Importance of Taking Care of Our Minds In both the short-term after effects post-COVID-19, and long-term implications; our physical health and mental health are so deeply connected. Followed by the pandemic, fueling discussions about mental health resources, coping techniques and emotional support. As people and communities move on to recovery, it will take mental health awareness, trauma-informed care, and resiliency building to shape the global focus of mental health care. Investing in the welfare of individuals, communities and our environment will only lead to a global well-being.
