Classic Argument - COVID-19 Effects on Mental Health and Awareness

 Abstract

            COVID-19 has negatively and positively affected all levels of the context of mental health. Locally and worldwide, the new virus crisis was and still is a topic in demand to be researched. This paper takes an in-depth look at the specific impact on the population's mental health, specifically on mental health awareness and effects. It provides examples of statistics and responses by peer-reviewed articles that mitigate the impactful effects of the crisis and offers takeaways on managing COVID-19. Finally, this argument offers a forward-looking perspective to discuss the crisis’ implications to build more awareness and a resilient perspective to overcome the challenge of the ones who were differently affected by this virus. In conclusion, this essay is based on the problem and causes of mental health and how this affects different communities to finally emphasize the actions that one individual can take and create awareness that we all have access to mental health.

COVID-19 Effects on Mental Health and Awareness

The new outbreak of the COVID-19 virus has influenced the population to be more interested in raising awareness of why mental health is so important in the midst of and after the pandemic. One interesting fact about the human brain is that we have several neurotransmissions that contain different chemicals that make us feel emotions. For example, in the first strain of the virus (SARS-CoV-2), one of the most common symptoms was the loss of smell and taste. Furthermore, the reactions or symptoms in the human body system are not only physical but also mental. According to WebMD Health News, there is evidence that the virus can affect the brain molecularly.  "The signature the virus leaves in the brain speaks of strong inflammation and disrupted brain circuits and resembles signatures the field has observed in Alzheimer's or other neurodegenerative diseases," senior author Tony Wyss-Coray, PhD. Furthermore, what is known so far is that COVID-19 can influence in a great scale human mental health and the impact on undeveloped populations is currently worse because there is no awareness about mental health and there is much to be done in order to increase accessibility for mental health during this crisis. 

The existing mental health disorders are many to be mentioned. One of the most common mental health disorders related to COVID-19 is that it causes distress, anxiety, panic attacks, and depression. People who already suffer from an existing mental health disability are the most affected. According to a recent research article Validation of the Swedish version of the COVID Stress Scales (CSS), because of the intrinsic results of the character of the pandemic crisis, people are confronted with obstacles that may generate widespread dread and worry. It is important to understand that psychological tension and worry have gotten a lot of attention as emotions that drive people's reactions to medical outbreaks. 

There are many reasons why this pandemic affected millions of lives at different levels and scales. Starting from people losing loved ones or getting infected, people in quarantine, and facing or getting used to a new reality. Fear and uncertainty can cause trauma, especially for people who were infected at the beginning of the pandemic, not to mention the economic effect that also causes stress and hopelessness in less advanced countries. The new pandemic from Coronavirus started at the end of the year 2019 affecting millions of lives worldwide because of the rapid spread of the new virus. Recent research from the KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation), exposed the amount of increment in sleeping, eating, and substance abuse disorders. Not only that but, during the pandemic, the virus has impacted human health in positive and negative ways, including the improvement or worsening of our mental health. It has also impacted human awareness about mental health, which is a positive takeaway. There is evidence regarding how this issue has influenced people's mental health. The article COVID-19 Impact on Mental Health (2020), investigates the risk factors that COVID-19 provoked in the public mind in the short and long term, although the consequences of the pandemic on mental health are not exactly known, there is evidence that shows how it has impacted. However, taking different risk factors, an online survey was made for people between 18 and 80 years of age. The results and evidence helped identify the most psychologically vulnerable groups and thereby help health providers and mental health managers to increase mental health for those who could be most affected. The research was done in a 12-week set in 2020 and there is another set that they are still doing for 2021 and 2022 since it is not known how the result changes over time. The biggest problem is found in communities that are not yet economically stable or developed and where accessibility to a professional center for psychological help is almost non-existent.

This new outbreak of SARS has impacted different groups of people differently, and there are recent study examples. The impact on mental health after the pandemic is still unknown, but it is being studied in different groups of different ages. The authors imply that a pandemic not only causes physiological and medical problems but also causes mental health issues. Throughout the world, the public is being informed about the physical effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection and steps to take to prevent exposure to the coronavirus and manage symptoms of COVID-19 if they appear. Researchers put their efforts and focus on understanding the epidemiology, clinical features, transmission patterns, and management of the virus outbreak, there has been very little concern expressed over the effects on one's mental health and on strategies to prevent stigmatization. This perspective from the article provided a detailed overview of the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak on the mental health of people. In effect, the general population may suffer from psychological or even psychiatric symptoms as a result of the virus transmission fear, including depression, stress, and anxiety. The closing of municipal services and the sudden collapse of industries may also cause severe mental and emotional distress. The communities that have been most affected were those that are not very aware of what mental health is, how one can seek help or people who already suffer from a mental disorder.

For this reason, he emphasized the idea that the problem is based on the fact that there is not really a conscience for mental health, much less in Third World countries such as Bolivia, and Peru, among others. The possibilities of receiving psychological help after some trauma or crisis due to this new virus in communities like Burundi, which is located in Africa, are almost nil since this area is so poor that mental health is something that is not even mentioned.

One interesting fact about this topic is that awareness of mental health has increased on a large scale. It is very important to create awareness about COVID-19 affecting several vulnerable groups in order to avoid severe mental health issues. According to the article The Mental Health Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic Across Different Cohorts, Social Media is also a great factor in anxiety and depression since it is mostly used by the population in their quarantine, causing serious problems among them. “Media coverage of the pandemic can also influence the public’s mental health. The 24/7 coverage of COVID-19 on rolling news channels, sensationalist headlines in national newspapers, and misinformation on social media have also stimulated anxiety and fear among the general public” (Khan, K.S. et al. 2022). Not only that, but losing a loved one, or having to deal with a family member who is facing an illness, requires a lot of emotional awareness to be resilient during the process. 

From a different perspective, not all the effects of COVID-19 are negative. The other point of view on how the pandemic has altered our mental health is that not all the collateral damage and effects of the virus were negative. According to Bryn Nelson, a science journalist (2020), the COVID-19 pandemic has had a beneficial side effect: the sky is bluer, crime is down, and numerous infectious diseases are disappearing from hospital emergency rooms. It is also mentioned that people are questioning their priorities as a result of the crisis, and they are willing to go to greater lengths to safeguard their loved ones. It's possible that this will lead to better behaviors. The New England Journal of Medicine states that: “After disasters, most people are resilient and do not succumb to psychopathology. Indeed, some people find new strengths. Nevertheless, in “conventional” natural disasters, technological accidents, and intentional acts of mass destruction, a primary concern is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) arising from exposure to trauma.”

In contrast, it is important to mention that this new virus affected various aspects including social, economic, and environmental inequities, in both positive and negative ways. Wealth redistribution, public provision, and social protection are all structural factors that must be acknowledged and addressed. It is clear that social protection is the most relevant aspect of this issue. Therefore, the collateral effects of the pandemic also bring positive effects, such as being aware of our mental health and how we can improve it. Although the results of the COVID-19 pandemic are consequently negative, there is no doubt that there is a duality in how this pandemic has also improved the lives of many people and even our air in the environment.  On the other hand, the article International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health implies that “It is too early to predict the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for older patients, but following the Hong-Kong SARS epidemic in 2003, elderly suicides significantly increased compared to the consistent reduction in rates seen in the previous two decades” (Simon, F. A. J. et al. 2021). This is not an assumption that suicide rates will increase after COVID-19 ends but, it is a past pandemic experience that gives an alarming need to focus more on people’s mental health as a priority. The authors also reference that “The existing data on the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on those with preexisting mood disorders is minimal. However, there is a broad consensus that those with psychiatric disorders might experience a worsening of symptoms, and thus an increased suicide risk.” What can be done to increase mental health awareness is by spreading the word more often with our friends and family, seeking professional help if we have the opportunity, and helping others to seek the same professional help. 

This new pandemic has had a great impact on our daily lives and will influence human history. Also, new theories and treatments will approach as time passes for the mental consequences and effects of the pandemic outbreak. With so much technology and advanced medicine, even the human mind, continues to be a source of infinite learning as our brain evolves over time. Mental problems rooted in the Coronavirus are a constant concern for our society. However, it has also brought a new opportunity to improve and find strengths in other individuals. Everything has pros and cons, and COVID-19 is not an exception. There is a very short gap between the new virus that impacted the entire world, from the loss of a family member to the experience of being infected or locked up. Any role plays an important role, and it is always good to spread that mental health during difficult times is the best solution to stay hopeful and spread mental health awareness for everyone in the world. To conclude, I strongly believe that mental health is essential. Especially nowadays, where many challenges are being experienced by humanity, from the pandemic to a possible third world war. Without going to the adjacent one, I think we must be prepared and aware to have a good mental state to face not only this pandemic situation but also other future challenges that we are going to have to deal with. Mental health is a basic need since, without the personal development that a human being needs, it is important, that is why I would like more reflection on this topic to spread the importance of mental health for a full life and personal development in any crisis situation.

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