Psychological impacts of COVID19

                       ”IT MIGHT BE STORMY NOW BUT DOESN’T LASTS FOREVER”

 HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF; our world is facing such pandemics over pasts decades including the Black Death (a plague outbreak from the fourteenth century), the Spanish Flu of 1918, and the more recent outbreaks in the 21st century, including SARS, HIV, Ebola, and Zika virus as well. This lack of attention is intriguing, as one of the greatest catastrophes ever, if not the greatest one in the entire history of humankind, was an outbreak of a pandemic i.e., the COVID-19. There is a huge impact setback of these pandemics can be seen now as well. Whole world faced economic, social and developmental crisis but most important its psychological impact on humankind is still traced. HIV, people even yet are not mentally prepared to face the treatment are available. Following the trend of pandemics, CORONA VIRUS 2019(COVID-19) all over the world has been facing tremendous death rates day by day.

The whole scenario is creating a huge psychological suffering among people who lost there near and dear ones, among sufferers (under quarantine and isolation) and the unaffected population as well. Psychological impacts know the signs of anxiety, panic attacks, depression and suicide, trauma, and post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD) seen among the treated with this disease and the general population. 

The coronavirus pandemic is an epidemiological and psychological crisis. The enormity of living in isolation, changes in our daily lives, job loss, financial hardship and grief over the death of loved ones has the potential to affect the mental health and well-being of many. Even in this time of physical distancing, it's critical to seek social support and connection with others. It's also important to know the signs of anxiety, panic attacks, depression and suicide so you can easily identify them, not just among your family, friends and neighbours, but for yourself.

Effects on general population

Do not refer to people with the disease as "COVID-19 cases", "victims" "COVID-19 families" or "the diseased". They are "people who have COVID-19", "people who are being treated for COVID-19", or "people who are recovering from COVID-19", and after recovering from COVID-19 their life will go on with their jobs, families and loved ones. It is important to separate a person from having an identity defined by COVID-19, in order to reduce stigma.

Minimize watching, reading or listening to news about COVID-19 that causes you to feel anxious or distressed; seek information only from trusted sources and mainly so that you can take practical steps to prepare your plans and protect yourself and loved ones.

Effects on health workers

Feeling under pressure is a likely experience for you and many of your colleagues. It is quite normal to be feeling this way in the current situation. Stress and the feelings associated with it are by no means a reflection that you cannot do your job or that you are weak.

Some healthcare workers may unfortunately experience avoidance by their family or community owing to stigma or fear. This can make an already challenging situation far more difficult.

Orient all responders, including nurses, ambulance drivers, volunteers, case identifiers, teachers and community leaders and workers in quarantine sites, on how to provide basic emotional and practical support to affected people using psychological first aid.

Manage urgent mental health and neurological complaints (e.g. delirium, psychosis, severe anxiety or depression) within emergency or general healthcare facilities. Appropriate trained and qualified staff may need to be deployed to these locations when time permits and the capacity of general healthcare staff capacity to provide mental health and psychosocial support should be increased.

Effects on children's, older adults

Older adults, especially in isolation and those with cognitive decline/dementia, may become more anxious, angry, stressed, agitated and withdrawn during the outbreak or while in quarantine. Provide practical and emotional support through informal networks (families) and health professionals.

The social distancing appears likely that there will be substantial increases in anxiety and depression, substance use, loneliness, and domestic violence; and with schools closed, there is a very real possibility of an epidemic of child abuse. 

Stress during an infectious disease outbreak can include:

· Change in sleep pattern

· Difficulty in concentration or sleeping

· Worsening of mental health condition

Ways to cope include

"THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT OURSELVES FROM CORONA,

AVOID BEING EXPOSED TO CORONA" 

• Taking a break from watching, reading or listening to news stories. Hearing about the pandemic news can upset your mind.

• Taking care of the body, if the body is fit it automatically promotes to strong positive mental health. Which can be done by taking deep breath or stretch, meditate external icon.

• Avoiding alcohol and drug external icons.

CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER DURING PANDEMIC

Connect with people talk to them, whom you trust concern about how you are feeling.

WORK FOR STRONG MENTAL HEALTH

• Acknowledge your anxiety and focus on the present moment.

• Practice mindfulness

Savour your meal, be mindful during first three bites of your meal.really focus n the taste, smell, texture, savour the moment.

Stop to observe, take a moment each what you are doing and watch your surrounding free of judgement simply observe.

Visualize your thoughts, empty your mind by envisioning your thoughts as object and through breathing.

• Keeping a gratitude journal.

• Thinking of your best's version, working on yourself.

• Organizing yourself

• Being positive.

BE INFORMED

BE COURAGEOUS

BE SMART

BE READY TO FIGHT

AGAINST COVID-19