As we inch closer to the third month of lockdown due to coronavirus pandemic, it has already taken a great toll on governments, health care systems, economies, organizations, and people across the globe. By now we have some idea on how to count the people infected or killed by the pestilence. We can tally jobs lost, estimate economic losses, and recognize the distress of students suddenly being taught at home instead of in their school classrooms. But how do we tally up something as amorphous as fear or depression, or loneliness or despair? There is a huge and invisible toll they take on mental health. It’s all gloom as people in large numbers continue to be locked down, their lives disrupted, their livelihoods hurt or even destroyed, and they stare at an uncertain future for themselves and the ones they care for.
Emerging studies and surveys are already showing COVID-19’s impact on mental health globally. Psychologists say even children are anxious and increases in cases of depression and anxiety have been recorded in several countries.
Recognising this, United Nations health experts have said that a mental illness crisis is looming as millions of people worldwide are surrounded by death and disease and forced into isolation, poverty, and anxiety by the pandemic.
The isolation, the fear, the uncertainty, the economic turmoil – they all-cause or could cause psychological distress, says Devora Kestel, director of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) mental health department.
UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, earlier this week spoke of the need for governments to urgently address mental health care needs and asked them to include mental health as part of their policy response to the pandemic.
The immediate challenge for each country, of course, is to flatten the curve of infections, prepare health systems, and revive the economy. But the mental health crisis will stay beyond the pandemic and need to be addressed as a policy decision. Jammu and Kashmir government has to also formulate an empathetic response to provide help to affected individuals. At the start of the pandemic, there were some advisories issued but they are not enough. The situation demands pro-activeness and applying of mind on how to deal with the crisis. Equally, medical professionals must find innovative ways of offering care and therapy at this juncture. At the same time, organizations, and families must come together to offer solidarity and support those who require immediate attention.
Looming mental health crisis
