What are some of the long-term impacts of the pandemic on mental health?
The current global pandemic has changed many aspects of our lives and for a pandemic that had such a big impact and that is largely scaled, questions are beginning to arise about the long-term effects of the pandemic on our mental health. According to research, 10% of people are expected to develop severe psychological problems (Anxiety disorders, PTSD & etc) post-pandemic but the percentage is said to be much higher than 10%. The research also pointed out the fact that at the beginning of the SARS outbreak in 2003, a number of people developed PTSD and a four-year follow-up study of 70 survivors of SARS found out that 44% developed PTSD. The focus of concern is children and youth since they have experienced the most mental health decline since the start of the pandemic. In order to prevent an even greater mental health decline post-pandemic, it is important to understand some of the possible long-term effects of the pandemic on mental health, consider preventive measures and raise awareness about this issue to reduce the negative impacts on children and youth.
The list below is some of the possible long-term effects of the pandemic on mental health.
Anxiety
Depression
Mood disorders
Post-traumatic stress symptoms
Difficulty dealing with stress
Inability to manage traumatic and negative emotions
Emotional and behavioural changes
Now that we’ve talked about some of the long-term effects of the pandemic, let’s take a look at positive coping mechanisms that can help those who are experiencing mental health deterioration during these times:
Listen to calming music
Play an instrument you love
Dance
Practice reframing negative thinking. Ex. instead of saying “I am stuck at home” say “I’m happy that I’m safe and happy”
Stretch
Eat healthy, well-balanced meals
Exercise regularly
Go for a walk, run or hike
Share feelings with people you trust
Draw, paint, write poetry or start journaling
Create a time capsule
And there you have it, folks!