The Silent Pandemic – Mental Health and COVID-19

The problems associated the mental health in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic are more likely to be phenomenal and to be felt many years ahead.

According to the recently released Northern Ireland Assembly on the suicide study report. It stated that “developing” data “disproportionately impacted” the psychological health of young people in particular. However, the study cautioned that deteriorating mental health should be avoided as well as suicide and suicide risk.

Covid-19 having a significant influence on mental health and the brain in addition to a variety of physical consequences, a peer-reviewed research has shown that typical symptoms like as sadness, worry and tiredness are likely to occur in mild instances as seriously.

Background of the Issue

COVID-19 has a severe effect, with numerous indications indicating that a concomitant pandemic in mental health is quietly associated with physical consequences. Social conditions such as loneliness, tension and fear all have a significant effect on the mental health of the individuals as well as changes in working and living conditions that cause additional stress. Research shows that, in three months after recovery, one patient in five Covid-19 is diagnosed with mental disorder. The problems are exacerbated by pandemic constraints and overloaded medical systems that impede those who are most in need of assistance.  

Important Fact 

In conjunction with a significant mental risk for covid-19 survivors, one study showed that individuals with previous psychiatric diseases were 65% more likely to acquire Covid-19. The increasing evidence that this population is susceptible has urged for researchers and mental health groups to prioritise mental health patients in the vaccination push.  

Work Life and Socialization

The pandemic COVID-19 has altered our working, everyday routine and socialisation. But for others, the ongoing “silent,” household violence, racism, and mental health pandemics have also been compounded. Business leaders must guarantee that workers with cumulative stresses get the assistance they need in the months ahead.

Domestic Life

For many years family and the domestic violence in has been an important issue around the world. However, additional issues arose with COVID-19. The choices for those with domestic and familial abuse have been restricted to social distances, lockouts and remote employment. As increasing jobs required individuals to work from home, the people who came to seek assistance decreased in numbers, according to supporters. At the same time, new kinds of aggression, such as monitoring people’s time on gadgets and utilising the infection as a threat, have surfaced from reports.

Issue of the Mental Health

It is more essential than ever to ensure the well-being of the employees, especially mental health. There can be no excessive cumulative effect of stresses – such as bushfires, demonstrations by Black Lives Matter, disclosures of sexual harassment in the workplace, and COVID-19. During this epidemic, employees face with various demands and will react differently.

What Leaders can do? 

i. Conducting an organisational risk assessment, identifying both dangers and strengths in order to understand the present status of mental health

ii. Encourage workers to create a personal well-being plan and make use of teams to monitor their follow-up;

iii. Development of a plan for mental health and related provisions such as mental health days;

iv. Normalization of mental health and wellness discussions with up-and-coming staff to go beyond ‘are you all right?’

v. With so much emphasis paid to the economic implications of COVID-19, leaders need to be cautious not to ignore their employees’ well-being. Our employees are resilient, but also rely on assistance from employers. How effectively leaders are taking care of their people will determine how fast companies, economies and nations are moving towards recovery..