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The COVID-19 pandemic that erupted in early 2020 and rapidly engulfed the world has had profound and enduring impacts on global mental health. Rates of depression, anxiety, stress, and loneliness have surged over the past three years as people struggled to cope with the threat of illness, lockdown orders, economic fallout, grievous losses, and upended daily routines. While vaccines and treatments have emerged to reduce the pandemic’s severity in many places, its damage to our collective mental health continues to unfold. The road to recovery remains long and challenging.
According to Dr. Louise Stanger, a professional interventionist, “the pandemic represents a traumatic period that has tested our mental wellbeing in unprecedented ways.” She notes that “coping with abrupt changes, uncertainty, isolation, grief, and loss has placed tremendous strain on people across all ages and backgrounds.” Navigating these issues to build individual and communal resilience will be an ongoing process.
Extensive research over the past three years has revealed the pandemic’s extensive psychological impacts through quantitative data. According to the World Health Organization, global prevalence of anxiety and depression doubled during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic levels. A comprehensive meta-analysis published in The Lancet in early 2022 analyzed over 60 studies and found that the global frequency of major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders increased by over 25% during the pandemic compared to 2019 estimates.
These findings cut across geographic and socioeconomic lines. A survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau in late 2021 found that over 40% of American adults reported symptoms of depression and anxiety since the pandemic started – a dramatic increase from about 11% in 2019. A 2021 observational study in 16 countries published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research indicated that 90% of participants reported worse mental health due to the pandemic, underscoring its universal reach.
“The shared experience of living through the pandemic has affected everyone’s mental health in some way,” explains Dr. Stanger. “However, it has exacerbated challenges for those already struggling with mental illnesses and hit marginalized groups especially hard.” Vulnerable populations including racial and ethnic minorities, the economically disadvantaged, the elderly, and youth have faced disproportionate impacts.
Multiple interacting factors underlie rising rates of clinical symptoms like major depression, generalized anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance use disorders. Fear of contracting COVID-19 has been nearly ubiquitous over the past three years. However, research indicates that those infected with the virus face greater vulnerability for mental health repercussions than those never testing positive.
A study published in JAMA Psychiatry in 2021 followed over 150,000 patients for up to 6 months after testing positive and found they had a 60% higher risk of anxiety disorders and 40% higher risk of mood disorders compared to those without COVID-19. This may be linked to immune responses and inflammation in the brain triggered by the virus. The traumatic experience of severe illness requiring hospitalization also contributes to lasting mental health effects.
Public health measures enacted to control viral transmission have profoundly disrupted daily life for much of the world’s population. Mandated lockdowns and physical distancing protocols led to increased isolation and loneliness for many. A 2020 scoping review in International Health found that separation from loved ones was strongly associated with worse mental health outcomes during the pandemic.
Dr. Stanger notes that “as social creatures, humans need interpersonal connections and a sense of community. Prolonged lack of social interaction has had serious psychological repercussions.” Uncertainty around when the restrictions would lift compounded the distress. Mitigating the mental health impacts of future public health actions must be considered.
Grief over the staggering loss of lives has also weighed heavily on the collective psyche. As of November 2023, over 6.5 million people globally have died of COVID-19. Public health measures meant that patients often died alone, and traditional mourning rituals were disrupted, leaving families’ grief unresolved. Healthcare workers faced immense strain witnessing the toll firsthand.
According to Dr. Stanger, “losing loved ones is always difficult, but the inability to say goodbye or properly memorialize those who died made the grief all the more acute.” She adds that “healthcare providers struggled to process the trauma of treating such an influx of critically ill and dying patients, often without adequate resources.”
Widespread economic instability and unemployment stemming from the pandemic created another key risk factor for mental health issues. A cross-sectional study published in Globalization and Health in 2021 found that food insecurity, housing issues, and medical cost concerns correlated strongly with poor mental health across 18 countries. Financial anxiety compounds the stresses of daily survival.
Parents have faced particular strain during the pandemic. Having to suddenly adapt to remote schooling for their children while simultaneously working from home led to surging stress and burnout. A 2022 study in Pediatrics showed stay-at-home mothers had a 310% higher risk of depression compared to pre-pandemic levels. Fathers saw a 90% increase in risk.
Racial and ethnic minorities faced even greater challenges, reflecting longstanding healthcare disparities. Hispanic, Black and Asian people experienced higher rates of infection, death, job loss, and economic hardship during the pandemic compared to White populations. This amplified pre-existing mental healthcare access barriers and support deficits for marginalized communities.
According to Dr. Stanger, “the pandemic didn’t create these inequities but rather exposed and exacerbated them. Minorities encountered barriers to testing, treatment, economic relief and community resources that profoundly impacted their mental health.” She stresses the need to “intentionally target outreach efforts towards diverse populations.”
Perhaps most worryingly, the pandemic has had pronounced impacts on youth mental health. Emergency department visits related to mental health crises rose 31% for children ages 5-11 and 26% for ages 12-17 during 2020 versus 2019 per CDC data. Isolation from peers, school closures, and uncertainty took a major toll on the developing minds of young people.
With the pandemic stretching into its third year, its mental health consequences continue to grow. Healing from this collective trauma will be a long process at both individual and societal levels. On a personal scale, evidence-based self-care strategies can help – exercising regularly, eating nutritious foods, getting adequate sleep, practicing mindfulness or meditation, limiting news consumption, and maintaining social connections have all been shown to aid mental wellbeing.
For those developing clinical symptoms, professional mental healthcare may be necessary. As Dr. Stanger observes, “while struggling is expected during these challenging times, help is available and reaching out is a sign of strength.” She recommends that “formal therapy can teach positive coping skills and help people process difficult emotions.” Connecting with support groups to share experiences may also be beneficial.
Those with more severe symptoms like suicidal ideation may need medication or inpatient psychiatric treatment. Unfortunately, the pandemic decreased access to mental healthcare just as demand rose. Policy changes are needed to boost funding, integrate services into primary care, train more providers, widen insurance coverage, and improve access for marginalized groups. Demystifying counseling and reducing stigma will further facilitate healing.
But attending to the pandemic’s mental health consequences cannot stop at the doctor’s office door. Broader public health and policy responses must recognize the interconnected social, political, and economic factors underlying this mental health crisis. As Dr. Stanger affirms, “while clinical intervention is important, addressing underlying social determinants of health is critical.”
She maintains that “factors like poverty, education, employment, housing, and healthcare accessibility profoundly influence mental health outcomes.” Systems allowing inequitable access to mental health resources need re-evaluation. Comprehensive reforms are vital to support populations made vulnerable by the pandemic’s injustices. Healing from this collective trauma demands both compassion and justice-oriented change.
In the words of Dr. Stanger, “with intention, time, and resources directed towards healing, we can emerge from this crisis individually stronger and closer as a society.” The COVID-19 pandemic has tested our mental health like never before – overcoming its damage will require continued research, innovation, and determination to build a mentally healthier world for all. COVID exacerbated developmental milestones for all age groups especially children and teens. It created a need for more creative in-home treatment on a global scale.
