In the late fall of 2019, Covid-19 spread from Wuhan, China, and almost a year later, 9 million patients in the United States alone have been infected with the virus, over 230,00 of whom have died (“Coronavirus Resource Center,” 2020). Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), better known as Covid-19, continues to overwhelm health care systems as it causes shortages of personal protective equipment for staff and beds in intensive care units. Resource shortages accelerate the virus’s spread throughout communities and cities, which inherently leads to more death. Death and other physical effects of the virus, though, are not the only consequences of the pandemic, whether or not one is infected; nationwide, studies are measuring the decline in mental wellbeing to be comparable to that of previous pandemics including MERS, SARS, influenza, and Ebola (Soklaridis et al., 2020). The current structure of health care systems in the United States is alarmingly ill-equipped to handle the psychological needs of employees, patients, and the public in crucial times, and “given the magnitude of the current pandemic, rates of mental health disorders are expected to increase” (Soklaridis et al., 2020).
A research article published in the Journal of General Hospital Psychiatry reviewed the long-term psychological and psychiatric effects of pandemics on humans, focusing mainly on at-risk groups for long-term effects, potential interventional options, what needs to be considered in the interventions’ implementation, and what needs additional research (Soklaridis et al., 2020). Considering both the historical patterns during pandemics and early research on Covid-19 in countries that saw extreme surges in case numbers (e.g. Italy and the United States), the study found that frequent reactions to disease and mass trauma include anxiety, uncertainty, feelings of isolation, and “economic despair.” Moreover, survivors of outbreaks and frontline workers like health care professionals are more prone to develop immutable symptoms like sleep disorders and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). More severe symptoms like these are seen across the board, regardless of age, gender, or levels of exposure to contagion. Concerningly, the Covid-19 pandemic exposed the gender disparities in the medical field. A March 2020 survey conducted by the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded that women and nurses are most likely to develop these symptoms, and modern research seeks to determine the underlying cause of this disproportionate rate (Lai et al., 2020). Another high-risk group for symptomatic feelings of anxiety and isolation is children, perhaps due to the lack of interaction provided by social environments like schools which remain closed in many states. Rates of suicide and substance abuse in these demographics increase, which leads some to question the efficacy and “side-effects” of quarantines.
Despite narratives popularized by people who are annoyed by social distancing and mask-wearing, quarantines and restrictions placed on events and activities save lives by limiting the spread of Covid-19, ultimately protecting elderly people and people with pre-existing health problems. In terms of the United States’ recovery from the pandemic, it is unclear to what extent the quarantine(s) will disrupt the economy and the political dynamic of the country. However, there is hope amidst the disaster. In Phase 3 of the Journal of the General Hospital Psychiatry’s study, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, a psychosocial therapeutic treatment, generated optimistic results. Participants’ symptoms greatly improved along with their mood, and similar results were found with other treatments like energizing music playlists, which decreased tiredness, sadness, fear, and worry.
Historians and epidemiologists are now studying how social media can be used as a resource to treat pandemic-induced mental illness, and they hope it can foster better cross-cultural communication to bring people together virtually. The American public should find hope in the results of these studies’ trials, as researchers look for solutions not only to prevent the spread of the virus itself with an eventual vaccine, but also the counter-spread of mental health complications. The challenges that healthcare providers and the general public are facing during the Covid-19 pandemic are demanding, both mentally and physically, but considering the novelty of the virus and the already reassuring trial results, public health systems should be prepared to treat the psychological effects, as long as preventative measures like frequent handwashing, social distancing, and mask-wearing are followed.
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Soklaridis, S., Lin, E., Lalani, Y., Rodak, T., & Sockalingam, S. (2020). Mental health interventions and supports during covid- 19 and other medical pandemics: A rapid systematic review of the evidence. General Hospital Psychiatry, 66, 133-146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2020.08.007
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