The dialogue around mental health is now in the talks more than ever. The Corona virus pandemic has caused huge rifts and ripples on how our society functions mentally and physically. Everyday seems to bring a new struggle which directly or indirectly is an effect of the current pandemic. There has been a significant change in the face of mental health- Pre and Post Covid era, also influencing the future of our society's social and mental network.
WHO (World Health Organisation) defines intellectual health as a nation of intellectual well- being wherein humans cope properly with the various stressors of life, wherein humans can recognize their personal ability and might feature productively and fruitfully, and are capable of making contributions to their communities. According to an estimate with the aid of the WHO, intellectual contamination makes approximately 15% of the full sickness situations across the globe. A record with the aid of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) indicates that 1 out of every 7 people in India can be afflicted by intellectual health challenge starting from depression, tension to different extreme conditions inclusive of schizophrenia. As a result, WHO has labelled India as the world’s ‘maximum miserable country’.
COVID-19 and Work-life of People
When lockdown was imposed across the country, a vast majority of people among the age groups of 18 to 55 years became unemployed overnight in the rural and urban sections of oursociety. As a result, a significant hike was seen in the cases and rates of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychological distress, abuse, domestic violence and sexual abuse during this time.
One of the most deeply affected people were the migrant workers, who walked thousands of kilometres to reach their homes. Months of lockdown lead to unemployment for them which lead to lack of money and insufficient food resources.They also suffered ill-treatment,indignity and abuse along the way. The informal sector could lead to a state of destitution, hunger, starvation and even death, if not protected with an immediate social safety net.
As per a survey recorded by the UN, 66% of Indian women reported being stressed due to additional duties of caregiving such as home-schooling and taking care of older relatives along with increased cases of violence towards them.
Psycho-Social impacts
To deal with the stress and anxiety experienced by people during these trying times, people may resort to various negative ways of coping, like use of alcohol, drugs, tobacco or spending more time on addictive behaviours such as online gaming.
Another impact was the increased risks for violence and discrimination related to gender and caste which are magnified by poverty and unemployment. There was an overall rise in cases of suicides and morbidity and increase in the number of disability-adjusted life years (DALY) linked to mental health because of increase in chronic stress, depression, alcohol dependence, and self-harm.
Impact on Brain Health
Quarantine, social isolation, reduced physical activity and decreased intellectual stimulation may affect brain health development in young children and adolescents and cognitive decline and dementia in the older population, a study reveals.
COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown has brought about short term as well as long term psychosocial and mental health implications for children and adolescents as well. The intensity of its impact is dependent on many factors which may include- developmental age, educationaland socio-economicstatus, pre-existing mental health condition, being economically underprivileged or being quarantined due to infection andfear of getting infected.
Unfortunately, the nationwide closure of schools and colleges have negatively impacted over 91% of the world's student population, according to a recent UNESCO report.
Impact on Young Children
In recent studies, it was seen that younger children (3-6 years old) were more likely to show symptoms of clinginess and the fear of family members being infected than older children (6-18 years old). They may experience sleeplessness or disturbed sleep, low appetite and irritation towards their caregivers.
Impact on School & College going Students
Before the pandemic and lockdown, children and adolescents maintained a one-to- one interaction with their mentors and peer groups. But the pandemic has made their lives more uncertain unpredictable which is in turn leading to disturbance in their education, physical activities and opportunities for socialization. The pandemic has also lead to youngsters feeling bored with lack of a proper schedule for the day.
Most children have also expressed lower levels of affect for not being able to play outdoors, not meeting their friends and not engaging in the one-to-one school activities. As a result, the children have become more clingy, attention seeking and more dependent on their parents. It is hypothesized that children may resist from going to school after the lockdown gets over and may face difficulty in forming rapport with their teachers when the schools reopen.
A study found that older adolescents and youth are worried about cancellation of examinations, exchange programs and academic events as well as wasting a year of their future studies.
Furthermore, prolonged confinement at home has also led to children's increased use of internet and social media, access to objectionable content and also increases their vulnerability for getting bullied or abused.
Mental Health And The Elderly
The older population of the country is one of the most vulnerable sections of our society. They are at a much higher risk for experiencing change that can affect them mentally and physically. And the corona virus pandemic has done just that. Older adults living in families have always been dependent on their caregivers for everyday necessities but the pandemic and the lockdown has heightened this dependence and has led to an increase in abuse towards the elderly.
Lockdown has severely affected their psychological well-being and has made them feel isolated, trapped and secluded in their homes. These trying times have worsened their mental health, also leading to depression and anxiety among the older population due to social disconnectedness, a recent study finds. Along with this, there’s persistent health related fear and anxiety around the topic of corona virus because of the uncertainties that it follows.
Mental health and People with Special Needs
People with disability are a vulnerable group and are also getting impacted by the current pandemic. They are facing anxiety, sadness, grief, uncertainties about financial security and job security, sleep disturbances, changes in eating patterns, fear about their caregivers falling sick and thoughts of worthlessness. Some issues which affect Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) are access to emergency support (financial and non-financial), access to essential supplies, and basic requirements such as water, food, sanitation and access to non-emergency healthcare needs.
Losing touch from the physical world and relying on the online world for connection created problems for people who are visually impaired or have hearing issues.
Also developing social skills and social interaction has been one of the issues for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Being socially distant and having no access to outdoor activities deteriorates their development. A lack of routine makes children with Autism Spectrum Disorder feel more anxious, grumpy, restless, and have unpleasant feelings.
Losing touch from the physical world and relying on the online world for connection created problems for people who are visually impaired or have hearing issues.
Also developing social skills and social interaction has been one of the issues for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Being socially distant and having no access to outdoor activities deteriorates their development. A lack of routine makes children with Autism Spectrum Disorder feel more anxious, grumpy, restless, and have unpleasant feelings.
To conclude, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted everyone differently, it has affected people of all age groups, also impacting the everyday needs of people with special needs or disability.
Written By:
Deepanshi Kacharia, Mahima Suri, Megha Agarwal
Interns, Brain Behaviour Research Foundation of India
References:
1. Santini, Z. et al.
(2020). Social disconnectedness, perceived isolation, and symptoms of
depression and anxiety among older Americans (NSHAP): a longitudinal mediation
analysis. The Lancet Public Health, 5, 62–20.
2. https://en.unesco.org/covid19/educationresponse
3. https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/COVID19Final2020ForOnline9July2020.pdf
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