COVID-19 and some mental health aspects.

The pandemic is still in evolution and the effects are still being observed, collated and analysed. It seems inevitable that a world-wide phenomenon of such beguiling proportions will create a lot of uncertainty in its wake. The growth of knowledge about this epidemic is tremendous but there are still huge gaps in our knowledge of the way the organism behaves in the body, the most effective treatments and exactly how the interaction between public health measures and economy should be best managed.

The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on mental health are still in evolution and the subject of detailed study by professionals all over the world. They range from the direct effects of the physical illnesses on those affected, the psychological sequelae in those affected, directly and indirectly, the consequences of the altered social milieu during the epidemic and the expected long-term manifestations of Covid disease itself.

Direct reports of increases in the new diagnoses and presentation of primary mental disorders, especially those associated with emotion-like depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder- are being received in both primary and secondary care settings. Of course, pre-existing conditions are liable to be exacerbated and, in some cases, previously well-established treatments are proving inadequate.

These organic problems can then be complicated by personal difficulties arising from the public health measures mandated by the authorities. Enforced loneliness, reduced human interaction, the routine wearing of face masks and social distancing measures all contribute to an altered social climate that can affect mental health and well-being. The converse of loneliness, enforced companionship, is not without potential problems too- the rates of domestic violence, wrangling and relationship breakdown have been reported to be rising as family units are thrown together for longer and in ways hitherto unknown.

As if these problems were not enough, the world is filled with conspiracy theories, half-baked postulations and irrational predictions from a whole spectrum of people with a range of motivation. All this adds to a fevered atmosphere of fear, misunderstanding and apprehension- with consequences for mental health and well-being.

Practically, individuals are best advised to remain careful but not fretful, to seek knowledge but not assume expertise and to adopt positive attitudes, a healthy lifestyle and hopeful optimism about the future. This epidemic will pass and our lives will return to normal.

Femi Adebajo