The Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health
The Coronavirus pandemic has rapidly spread across the globe, causing massive disruptions to everyday life. The pandemic is having profound social, economic, and psychological impacts all over the world. Covid-19 restrictions and the resulting economic recession have negatively affected many people’s mental health.
Cough and breathing issues are associated with Covid-19, but we cannot deny that even our mental health has taken a toll. If we were struggling with anxiety and stress before the pandemic, newly introduced lockdown measures and social distancing have made things worse. Not being able to see loved ones is definitely the first thing that comes to mind, but there are other things too. A hug, a kiss, and a simple pat on the shoulders are unthinkable now when, let’s be honest, we need them now more than ever.
It is not only us thinking this, but data speaks clearly. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) at the beginning of the pandemic:
- 19 million adults in Great Britain were struggling with high levels of anxiety due to the pandemic outbreak
- 37.4% of adults in Great Britain stated That the pandemic has affected their mental well-being
- 24 % of adults (1 in 4 people) had feelings of loneliness
Those are not only numbers, but it is also us and there are a variety of reasons that have led up to this. The pandemic has caused exceptionally challenging and worrying times for all of us. There are multiple triggers, but the following are the most common and are surely worth mentioning.
Social isolationSocial distancing is necessary to reduce the spread of Covid-19, but it makes us feel isolated, lonely and increases stress and anxiety. Loneliness has a negative impact on our mental health, and it represents one of the key contributors to poor our mental wellbeing. In particular, long-term loneliness increases problems such as stress, anxiety, and depression.
Loss of employment & financial problems
Another important concern during the coronavirus pandemic is unemployment and problems with finances. There is no doubt that the furlough scheme has helped to protect jobs. However, unemployment rate rises to 5.1% and, 1.74 million people were unemployed. Workers in the hospitality industry, entertainment, and retail were the most affected.
Fear of illness
Anxiety about friends and family getting coronavirus is one of the main drivers of poorer mental health during this year. We all worry about the health of our loved ones, but right now being away from them is the best way to protect them.
We all remember when we were 10 doing maths with our dad crying on the kitchen table. Now think of doing that for almost two academic years. It sounds fun, doesn’t it?
There is no doubt that parenting during the pandemic, has become an extreme challenge. In particular, the pressure of home-schooling has created a new challenge for parents. Helping your children with schoolwork is a hard task, especially while working from home.
This year has been extremely challenging, and it is entirely normal to feel worried and stressed during times of uncertainty. Our feelings are valid but there are simple things we can do to help take care of our mental health and wellbeing. Reading “Top 5 tips on how to take care of your mind” might help us more than we think. After all small changes lead to big results, especially when protecting our mental wellbeing. These tips are a starting point for all of us to start feeling a bit better until the pandemic is over. Even if it doesn't seem like it, a cup of tea and deep breaths can go a long way.