Dr. Rabia Azhar Azeem Khattak.
This novel coronavirus is not just a public health crisis, it is a crisis that touches every sector. Like other pandemics, this Covid-19 is generating significant stress and anxiety, particularly in people with existing mental health problems, children, health practitioners, front-line workers, and those deemed to be at high risk of contracting the virus, like older people and those with chronic disease. In March 2020, the Ministry of Health in order to control the spread of coronavirus uploaded on its website that full-scale restrictions be imposed throughout the country also urged public to fight coronavirus with “wisdom”.
Following the announced, the decision to lock down the provinces and centre, disallowing people to venture out of their homes “without a valid reason”, was decided and a complete ban on movement of people including intercity and interprovincial travel or gathering of any kind for social, religious, or any other purpose at any place, including all offices, public and private situated within their territorial limits. Schools, mosques, museums, cinemas, shops and any other social, recreational centres were closed down.Under strict implementation of section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) any gathering in public places was prohibited, including sports, marriage events and funerals. Most shops remained shut down. Those selling essentials commodities, such as grocery shops, fruit or vegetables markets and pharmacies, need to confirm a distance of at least 1 meter between customers. These measures stringently be followed, and sole objective was to contain the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
The economic and psychological impact of this pandemic was immense. It has aggravated a psychogenic health crisis. During viral outbreak, anxiety in communities can grow after hearing about deaths, boost in media reporting, and rising number of new cases.
Therefore, mass quarantine is expected to increase anxiety considerably, because of many reasons. Increased anxiety may also have a domino effect for other health actions too. Despite the consequences of exposure, people may feel fear and anxiety of falling sick or dying, vulnerability, blaming or hating others who were ill, potentially generating a negative psychological effect. All genders could be affected by negative psychological effects from this outbreak especially young individuals, people having mental illness and the less privileged.
In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak, nationwide closure of educational institutes was made to prevent spreading of the virus, thus, this threat has thrown our education system into disarray. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Schools now have to find a way to teach children while they are away from the classroom, and keep up the expected pace and level of learning. Although, some schools have made a huge effort to reach out to students at all levels to create online courses and deliver them through the internet in best time in many countries. The new virtual semester has just begun in several parts of our country too, and various courses are presented online and is a well organised approach. These actions are serving to relieve many parents’ concerns about their children’s educational progress by making sure that school learning is mostly undisrupted. Even though these measures and efforts are extremely well-intentioned and essential, there are reasons to be concerned about that because of extended school closures and home quarantine during this pandemic might have negative effects on physical and mental health. We should be aware of the problem that might arise from prolonged closure of schools and educational institutes. According to some studies it shows that when children are out of school e.g. on weekends or vacations, they are physically less active, have considerably extended screen time, irregular sleep patterns, and poor diet pattern, might result in weight gain or loss and might show loss of cardiorespiratory health. These negative effects on health are expected to be considerably worse when children are restricted to their homes without outdoor activities and interaction with same aged friends. Possibly a more vital but easily neglected matter is the psychological effect on children and adolescents. Stressors such as extended duration of home confinement, doubts of infection, boredom, scarce factual information, lack of personal contact with classmates, friends and teachers, deficiency of own space at home, and family economic damage can have even extra challenging and lasting negative effects on children and adolescents.
Now, come to medical responders, such as rechristened front liners, comprising of paramedics, ambulance workers and Healthcare Workers (HCWs), have also been found to show heightened stress, become emotionally affected, disturbed with stress, and have increased levels of depression and anxiety. This is normal as the anxiety and fear of becoming infected is much greater with the risk of exposure. There may also be a fear of spreading the virus to their families and children. The equilibrium between professional duty, self-sacrifice and personal fear and the concern for others can often root conflict and stress in many HCWs. The most important emphasis of public health authorities and media through epidemics generally revolves around the biological and physical consequences of the outbreak, with less notice on mental health issues.
Furthermore, foreigners under isolation in hospitals are at heightened risk of psychological problems, as they need their social supports and feelings of insecurity for returning back, so demanding practical and emotional support for them is highly needed. While there has been a speedy accumulation of studies on the medical attributes of Covid-19, there has been insignificant research studying the psychological effect of this disease.
How to react and tackle these problems that will arise from a longer lock down?
Communities can act as helpful resources in coping with problems of family troubles. For example, parents’ groups can work collectively to bridge the requirements of students with school needs and to encourage children’s for rights to a healthy daily life. Psychologists can deliver online services to manage with mental health issues triggered by domestic conflicts, anxiety with parents, and fear from becoming infected. Social workers can take part actively in helping parents deal with family issues resulting from the situation, when required. Such a social safety net could be mostly beneficial for disadvantaged families. Parents usually play as vital role models in healthy behaviour of children. Good parenting skills become mostly vital when children are confined at home.
It would be useful to have psychiatrists and mental health professionals sit in the Task Force for Covid-19, to guide the government on mental health policies and psychological intervention. This outbreak has emphasized the vulnerability of mental resistance and the necessity for the obligation of coordinated psychological intervention to the nation. Merely by supporting the psychological defence nations can continue to fight this long-term struggle and ensure success for the future.
—(The writer is a (write profession here) she earned degree (any educational history and mentioned name of institute). She can be reached at dr. raboazhar 03@ gmail.com or (you can mention your twitter handle)
