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The novel coronavirus disease where novel in this context means new is a pandemic that emerged at the end of 2019 and this disease has quickly impacted governments and public health systems. The government has responded by declaring a public health emergency of all essential workers as well as by adopting extraordinary measures to prevent the outbreak. Millions of lives have been significantly altered from the top down to the grassroots. The COVID-19 disease has now achieved pandemic status. While preventive and medical action is the most essential at this stage, psychological points of view can help manage the situation to some extent. This calls for psychologists to intervene directly for patients and indirectly for relatives, caregivers, and health care professionals.
The mental health of COVID-19 patients which may include confirmed patients, patients with suspected infection, those under contact tracing, quarantined family members and health care workers have not been adequately considered and handled. In order to develop psychological interventions for all and most specifically the more vulnerable groups, some important issues to address include the adverse psychological impacts this pandemic has had and is having on the population.
To begin with, coping as a health professional during these extraordinary times is really hectic. The traumatic experiences from emotions, psychological burdens, anxiety just to mention a few even to the extent of losing a beloved patient. There should be psychological interventions for health professionals, frontline workers and all essential workers.
Also, there should be psychological intervention for sufferers, high-risk individuals and those living in the worst-hit communities. Those who have lost relatives, friends, neighbours should also be taken care of psychologically since the death may trigger some fear in them due to probably having contact with the deceased few moments before declared positive. The possibility of these relatives becoming objects of stigmatization is also a psychological problem that must be checked in order to curb the situation.
Furthermore, considering students with mental health needs, this pandemic associated with strict social distancing rules and lockdown means a lack of access to the resources they usually enjoy in school. The introduction of e-learning though an applaudable initiative is doing more harm than good since it has its pros and cons. As a victim, using this e-learning can be smooth at times but when the connection disrupts, it affects everything around since the tutor is still doing his tutoring and the student is battling with connectivity. Assignments are given and if one lacks the resources to access the internet to gain more insight for the assignment, the student becomes oblivious and ends up catching up with the deadline meanwhile the assignments are gradable and this affects the behavioural and psychological health of these students.
In a survey by the mental health charity Young Minds, which included 2111 participants up to age 25 years with a mental illness history in the UK, 83% said the pandemic had made their conditions worse. 26% said they were unable to access mental health support; peer support groups and face-to-face services have been cancelled, and support by phone or online can be challenging for some young people.
Last but not least, social distancing measures can result in social isolation in abusive homes. During these times of economic uncertainty and stress, there will be a rise in the rates of child abuse and neglect. Let us adhere to the preventive measures and come out from this lockdwon victoriously and healthy this too shall pass.
- Let us avoid overcrowding areas
- Wash your hands with soap regularly under running water
- Use alcohol hand rub
- Do not touch your eyes, mouth or nose (The T-ZONE) with unwashed hands
- Keep distance from people who show signs such as fever, cough, and difficulty in breathing
- Eat properly, drink enough water and have enough rest/sleep.
- In case you have symptoms, call the emergency numbers (+233 55 843 9868 / +233 50 949 7700) or report to the nearest hospital
- Practice social isolation.
