The COVID-19 pandemic produced alarming mental health outcomes. These outcomes are often overlooked when compared to the physical toll of the pandemic. Worldwide, individuals have experienced unparalleled levels of stress, fear, grief, and isolation following the global pandemic. For some, these stressors led to mental health consequences. In this blog post, we will explore how the pandemic caused an increase in mental health issues, the factors leading to this, and who was most affected.
According to the World Health Organization, “In the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, global prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by a massive 25%, according to a scientific brief released by the World Health Organization (WHO) today. The brief also highlights who has been most affected and summarizes the effect of the pandemic on the availability of mental health services and how this has changed during the pandemic.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased the rate of mental health issues. One strong explanation for this increase is the stress caused by the social isolation that was experienced during quarantine. Social isolation put a strain on people’s ability to work and engage in their communities. In addition to this, factors such as loneliness, fear, suffering, death, grief, and financial stressors caused by the pandemic have led to an increase in anxiety and depression.
Studies have shown that the pandemic has especially impacted mental health in young people. They face higher risks of suicidal thoughts and self-harming behaviors. In addition, studies have shown that women were more affected by the pandemic than men were in terms of mental health. Lastly, people with physical health conditions like asthma or cancer are more likely to experience mental health issues.
The mental health crisis fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic is an ongoing global health issue that is yet to be resolved. However, raising awareness, maintaining compassion, and striving to take action will lead us to recovery worldwide.
Picture source: https://umaine.edu/news/blog/2022/03/11/pandemic-mental-health-impacts-on-adolescents-quantified-in-new-umaine-study/
