Mental health conditions have remained mostly unchanged for several decades, but the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 changed all that.
Anxiety and depression began to rise considerably from March 2020 onwards. In some countries, such as the UK, the US, Australia, Belgium, Sweden, Canada and Mexico, it was actually as much as twice that of the previous rates.
The risk factors for bad mental health including fear, financial insecurity and unemployment increased, while protective factors such as access to health services, physical exercise, educational engagement, employment and social connection decreased.
In comparison to pre-pandemic results, the prevalence of depression and anxiety has significantly increased.
The pandemic resulted in millions of people effectively being trapped inside of their homes and robbed of their social interactions, which only caused even more anxiety, stress and loneliness.
Studies from the World Health Organization, market research agencies and a number of notable universities have all registered an unprecedented spike in the levels of depression and anxiety in young adults, and even the pandemic easing and a return to former normality has not eased the symptoms.
Having been in quarantine and social isolation for months and even a couple of years in some cases, the return to in-person working conditions has also resulted in some patients experiencing even greater anxiety and depression, with symptoms including over-thinking, social anxiety and fear of catching disease.
Employers now have a responsibility to address such safety concerns in order to ensure that returning to the workplace goes smoothly.
Other mental illnesses that have experienced a sharp increase in the wake of the pandemic include obsessive compulsive disorders, stress and trauma-related disorders, internet addiction in children, and behavioral and personality disorders in teenagers.
Mental health issues pose a big problem for society, with depression one of the major illnesses adding to the worldwide disease burden.
A Master’s of Science in Nursing program from Spring Arbor University is designed to expand nursing knowledge in a number of ways, including how to deal with mental health issues from a faith-based perspective.
In a post-pandemic world, it is crucial to make awareness programs a priority and have measures implemented throughout all levels for the sake of further damage control.
The stigma problem
Mental health has now overtaken cancer to become the second biggest global health concern, according to a new report from market research company Ipsos.
While the statistic may seem alarming on the surface, it also points to the reality that awareness of mental health issues has increased significantly in recent years, with three in four people believing that mental health is equally as important as physical health, according to the report.
However, a stigma still remains around the issue of mental health even with the rise in awareness, as while more people are seeking help, many still see mental health as being an aspect of life that is self-moldable or self-induced.
The stigma that surrounds mental health continues to be a problem for those trying to help and serve their patients, with some people even preferring to suffer alone rather than having to face this stigma.
Health organizations and stakeholders all over the world need to make greater efforts to ensure that mental health services are more accessible and guaranteed to be confidential.
Work stress
One of the most impacted industries during the pandemic was the healthcare sector.
In addition to the massive pressure on the sector and the professionals within it, COVID-19 also revealed the cracks within the worldwide health system and in many cases split them wide open.
A number of deep issues were revealed by the pandemic, including unequal healthcare access, among other problems.
Work-related stress became a big problem for healthcare professionals after the onset of the pandemic.
Many hospitals have begun trying to reduce the mental stress on their staff members by carrying out regular meditation and mindfulness sessions.
There has also been an increase in work-related stress in general workplaces all across the world.
COVID-19 restrictions have had a negative impact on job culture and lifestyle, with the pandemic also resulting in redundancies that have created unexpected imbalances by adding financial burdens, the fear of losing your job and work pressure, with less resources than was once the case.
The pandemic resulted in lockdowns that spawned the beginning of a global recession, and the economic slowdown coupled with the outbreak increased anxiety levels all over the world.
While most of the world has now recovered from the crisis, mental health issues could still be triggered again by recent forecasts, rising oil prices and worries over food security.
A global recession in 2022-2023 is not being predicted by the World Bank, but earlier recessions have demonstrated that a number of other developments that are, or could be, in progress may make one more likely.
Improving coping measures, living within your means, helping others and seeking professional help when required are all suggested pieces of advice.
It is also a good idea to stay productive at work, continue to practice religious and spiritual beliefs, and support family members.
The impact of social isolation
The pandemic has put millions of people through an emotional rollercoaster, and mood can fluctuate depending on a variety of different factors, including levels of wellbeing prior to social isolation, the experiences encountered during isolation, and the strategies they develop to deal with reintegrating back into society.
Millions of people had to switch to deal with working from home, changing their expectations of their relationship with their workplace, and what was expected of them.
The new push to get people to go back to the traditional work environment has ironically resulted in pushback from those who have become accustomed to their new routine and who may also fear unsafe returning.
The combination of a lack of feeling psychologically and physically safe as well as an increased cognitive load can result in aggressiveness, hostility, irritability and defensiveness.
Even as the world begins to move on from the pandemic, uncertainty remains for many people, with lingering questions regarding the safety of their jobs and businesses, confusion over travel, and continued worries over the virus.
Coping with stress
The good news is that there are steps that the individual can take to maintain and protect their emotional wellbeing and mental health.
One good tip is to make time for you.
Mental wellbeing can be improved by maintaining your physical health – for example, by taking part in physical activity, sleeping well and eating well.
Regular meals can be a good deal more important than the majority of people probably even realize, as is making smart choices while at the supermarket – if you don’t buy junk food, you can’t eat junk food.
There are also ways to make exercising more entertaining, such as by making use of yoga tutorials that are freely available on YouTube, or apps to help with workouts at home.
Sleep is also of vital importance to mental health.
A regular sleeping and waking time is a good way to begin healthier sleeping habits, and other tips include trying meditation exercises and not having your mobile phone near your bed.
Keep things in perspective
Everyone needs to play their role in a crisis situation in order to make certain of the best possible outcome.
You need to acknowledge the things that are within your control and the things that are not, and stay focused on the positive contributions you can make to your own life and those around you.
Staying connected
It is also vital to make sure that you stay connected to colleagues, family and friends.
These people are your support network and can assist you with getting through challenging times by helping to reduce feelings of social isolation.
Social interaction and connections are crucial to maintain good mental health, and communication channels such as email, chat, text and video calls can help people to stay connected.
It is important to keep checking in with people, particularly those who may have health issues or who live alone.
Daily goals and routines
Routines play a crucial role in giving daily life a sense of normality and purpose.
A routine can include getting up in the morning, going to bed at night, and eating meals at set times, and also normal activities such as reading, walking the dog or exercising, and scheduling favorite pastimes at particular times of the day.
Disconnecting from the media
The media, be it TV, radio, online or social media, can be a wonderful thing, but there can sometimes be too much of a good thing, particularly in times of crisis such as a pandemic.
Too much negative information can have a serious adverse impact on mental health, and it is a good idea to take a break from the media in order to clear your head and think about less stressful subjects.
It may also be advantageous to set limits for media consumption, avoiding it first thing in the morning and late at night, and only checking the news at certain times and for small periods during the day.
It is also a good idea to sometimes read more positive news stories to gain a better sense of balance.
The world may be emerging from the COVID-19 crisis, but its effects still linger and mental health is now more important than ever.
