The Impact Of COVID-19 On Our Mental Health

The title of this blog post suggests doom and gloom. Yes, we will discuss the negative impacts of COVID on mental health, but we’ll also offer ways to manage and combat them. 

Let’s address the hard part first. 

There’s no sugarcoating the havoc that the pandemic has wreaked on our emotional wellbeing. It has exacerbated the symptoms of those with existing mental health conditions, and people with no previous history are receiving new diagnoses.  

By now, we’re all tired of the pandemic terms that carry the most weight: “uncertain times”, “we’re all in this together”, “the new normal,” etc. You can even download COVID Bingo and Tic-Tac-Toe games right to your phone. Though these clichés are annoying, they are applicable, just like another one: “uncharted territory.” 

Both counseling patients and providers find themselves in the land of the unknown, and they’re writing the book, so to speak from their own perspectives on how to handle it.  

Here we explore the impact of COVID-19 on our mental health. 

More Anxiety and Depression 

COVID cases aren’t the only kind that are surging. Unfortunately, there’s been a rise in anxiety and depression. In August, Forbes cited a report from the United Nations and World Health Organization:

“The CDC conducted a survey of 5,412 people between June 24 and 30 and the collected data on suicides is alarming. Roughly 25% percent of young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 say they’ve considered suicide because of the pandemic. About 30.9% of the respondents said that they ‘had symptoms of anxiety or depression’ and about 26.3% reported trauma and stress-related disorders caused by the outbreak. Over 13% said that they have used alcohol, prescription and/or illegal drugs to deal with their pandemic-induced stress and anxiety.”

Additionally, the American Medical Association, citing data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Center for Health Statistics, reported that one in three Americans are experiencing symptoms of stress or anxiety. 

Diagnosis After Recovery 

Having COVID and recovering doesn’t occur in an emotional vacuum for some. A recent story from NPR.org revealed that following a COVID diagnosis, roughly one in five people are diagnosed with a mental disorder, including anxiety, depression, or insomnia. Those hospitalized had a higher risk of receiving a psychiatric diagnosis than those who weren’t. Most concerning is the “bidirectional” relationship between mental illness and COVID, meaning that people with psychiatric diagnoses were approximately 65% more likely to be diagnosed with COVID-19 than people without them. 

Parents and Kids are Especially Hurting 

Parents with school-aged children have been on edge regarding balancing the responsibilities of their jobs and childcare. School has been either following fully remote-learning or a hybrid system. However, now that Illinois is back in the hot zone of COVID cases, many districts are taking no chances and converting or reverting to full-time remote matriculation. 

A study by Catalyst, conducted in September, 2020 found that most parents surveyed 

reported their children’s schools were 100% remote, and “The disruption of work-life balance has left many parents feeling guilty, whether when working (54%) because they’re not attending to caregiving, or when caregiving (43%) because they’re not attending to their work. They are caught in a no-win situation.”

Children are having a rough go at it, as well. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) report young children are experiencing an increase in disturbed sleep, poor appetite, inattentiveness, and significant separation problems. In addition, the lack of socialization is causing feelings of loneliness and anxiety. 

Now, the Hopeful Part

As promised, we’re not bookending with more doom and gloom. For one, there’s been hopeful  news about vaccines this week. Also, the mental health discussion has amplified during the pandemic which has raised more awareness. There are other silver linings: the bogeyman in that NPR story isn’t prevailing; the article goes on to say that in most cases, mental health disorder symptoms eventually subside.

Finally, we can fight back by seeking therapy and taking care of our mental health. Cognitive Solutions LC provides a diverse range of treatments to address anxiety, depression, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and more. For more information about our treatments and teletherapy options, please contact us at (773) 755-1775
or email info@helpforld.com.