DECODING MENTAL HEALTH: THE PANDEMIC VERSION

The coronavirus pandemic unleashed extraordinary ways of life on every person on this globe. With an entirely new disease unheard of, came a string of unpredictable events that disrupted every activity of human civilization till date; barely an aspect untouched by the pandemic waves. With so much happening at a quick pace, the world outside the human body came to a sudden standstill. But the human mind did not. It began witnessing an assortment of complex emotions- both existent and emerging. These were inescapable states of mind making no person exceptions to mental health imbalances.

Realising the Value
Mental health is a matter of paramount significance. This subject in human health discourses has often been on the underestimated, neglected and ignorant side where people forget to take care of the very engine that drives the body to any movement. Everything that we as human beings experience in our day to day lives has an influence- negatively as well as positively on our cognitive processes and functions. This hub of masterly operations takes responsibility for receiving, extracting, deciphering and responding to every stimulus the body is exposed to. The brain engineers the mind, controlling the body, which is otherwise mere skin. When vital cognitions fail, the mind goes astray followed by mental breakdowns and malfunctions, causing the body to behave in the most bizarre and dangerous ways. Yet, the importance of mental health is meagre.

People are always keen on doing the maximum and spending the best on everything that keeps their bodies distant from diseases and deficiencies; ensuring hygienic environments for cooking, eating and storing, maintaining clean homes and surroundings, and going the extra mile on additional intake of nutritional supplements separately. But for the health-supporting mentally, the pivot of all bodily functions, the count stands at little to nothing.

Mental Health and Pandemic: Hand in Hand
The Covid-19 pandemic has paved paths for infinite problems. The world is in shock and suffering. Humans are not only contracting the coronavirus but have also found themselves in fear, anxiety, stress, trauma, disorders and depression. For people who test positive with the contagion, dreadful times burden them in hospitals. Whereas, people staying at home are strained with new realities like total confinement, work from home, online classes and harsh ones like cuts in salaries, job losses and dropouts. Also, not leaving out fake news, rumours and excessive exaggerations being circulated through various media. All these are new and difficult adaptations. Thus, both physical and mental exhaustion prevail. Every person, if not infected by the virus, have experienced mental issues at some point or the other, as life sets adrift from normalcy.

Circumstances as such make people aware, acknowledge and assess their mental health state. It is evident how a physical ailment can emanate other ailments as well. Mental health is sensitive and fragile to stimuli propelling negative emotions, just like the physical body is acute to pathogens. Numerous courses, webinars, workshops and therapies related to mental healthcare are being organized more than ever before. For decades, the prevalence of mental health conditions has been broadly unchanged; this trend changed in 2020 with the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic (2020, OECD). Hence, a genuine demand for mental health resources is at rise as people struggle every day.

Mental Health and Pandemic: Hand in Hand
As days passed and lockdowns extended, staying at home became more troublesome. Different age groups experienced different issues to cope with. They are still being confronted in the present day.

At an age when children should be full of energy, socially active and spirited, they appear withdrawn. Children are now locked in their homes due to school closures having very little room for interaction with their fellow friends. Physical activities are compromised. As a result, they are experiencing loneliness, lack of companionship, boredom, irritation and sadness. During such times, they also fear separation from their parents and loved ones on whom they depend entirely. Children have become restless due to lack of outdoor activities and interactions which they were always accustomed to. In a report, findings reveal that children have felt uncertainty, isolation, poor appetite, agitation, inattention and separation-related anxiety. (2020, PubMed)

Adolescents are facing frequent and enormous emotional instability during the pandemic. Already in an age group, where they pass from numerous physical, hormonal and emotional transitions, the pandemic exerts greater changes on them. Many important settings like classrooms, seminars, competitions and other gatherings have gone virtual. The role of social media platforms is now even more prominent. Young teenagers are burdened with daily flushes of information, academic routines, social isolation, extra-curricular courses followed by mood and eating disorders, panic attacks, persistent stress of a busier life existing virtually, anxiety over balancing every task as a student, inferiority complexes from social media platforms depicting perfection and others. Students have also been anxious over the cancellation of examinations and other disruptions in their educational fields (2020, PubMed). Number of cases with depression, disorders and suicides have shot up. The mental health of adolescents is seriously severed accruing to all the newness.

The mental health status has also taken an unhealthy leap for adults. They are the victims of unemployment and pay cuts. Adults who have lost their jobs are going through heavy mental stress. They are in a very tough position due to financial insecurity which has affected them and also their families. A report by Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) has proved that people who lost their jobs during the pandemic reported greater incidence of anxiety and depressive disorders than those who still had their jobs. Others who are fortunate to retain their jobs with certain pay cuts have been introduced to ‘work from home’. While these have been convenient from home desks, they are also challenging because the division of workplace and household tasks are now converged. Spending hours in front of screens and also making sure household chores are properly done simultaneously creates a pressure of balance between the two. Mostly, women have endured the brunt of this challenge, both working and non-working.

The last age group which has also faced mental health issues are the elderly people. Senior citizens have also suffered from the inability to step outside. At such ages of physical and mental weakness, new rules and health protocols are difficult to process and follow. They depend majorly on external support and require communication. The pandemic has disturbed their social connections with selected family members and friends due to lack of physical contact, they worry about their existing health problems, their medications and treatments along with increased fears of illness and death. Such a period has made them more vulnerable to helplessness.

The Warriors and Grievers
It will be unfair to sideline the mental health conditions of frontline workers who are ensuring the safety of every person, people who are infected with the virus and families of the covid infected patients. Doctors, nurses, medical associates and healthcare workers are drained physically and mentally because of their uninterrupted pursuit of duty. Many have even lost their lives due to the virus, overwork and absence of proper rest. Patients of Covid-19 continuously worry over their speedy recovery. Their families also go through the mental distress of fear and anxiety.

Prioritizing Mental Health
Before the global disease struck, only a section of people prioritized their mental health. Mental health centres, helplines and related assistance operated minimally in countries. Instances of underfunding and zero funding of these provisions were also prominent. With the advent of the virus, these loopholes widened. Although the demand for mental health services expanded, their initial availability and accessibility were not enough. Only with time, has mental health support increased at an impressive pace. During this health crisis, people should indulge in healthy habits that build self-realisation and stay away from any information or habits harming their positive energies and beliefs. Focus should be on the good of oneself as well as others. If professional psychological intervention is required, one must not hesitate to get help. The gravity of mental illnesses and their effects needs to be emphasised. They are not simple or silly. They are indeed as serious as any other physical problem. In light of the pandemic, governments can also play their part in spreading mental health awareness. Just like mandatory basic covid protocols are imparted through various media and communication networks, the same can be done for accentuating mental health advices and details. Thus, dealing with mental wellness as eagerly as with physical. This can produce substantial impacts in a positive direction.

Summing up
The essence of achieving a healthy body will be complete only if one equally prioritises mental and physical health components. All research, findings and practical experiences support the affirmation and adoption mental health awareness. The pandemic is an eye-opener to stereotypes, stigmas and taboos related to mental health. Let us be wise in disseminating the term health in ‘Health is Wealth’. One who embraces good health, nurtures both body and mind.