Though it has been more than 5 months since the COVID 19 Corona Virus Pandemic struck India, yet the number of cases continues to grow unabated. It has come to a state where daily over 50,000 new cases are being added. The good news though the recovery cases too have risen steadily as well. Apart from this, another relief has been the mortality rates have been relatively low. The possibility of the Vaccine too would take some time. The result has been prolonged lockdowns and social distancing seems the only way at present to deal with the problem. Along with the health hazard that the pandemic poses the economic fallout too seems very uncertain as well. All these factors are now taking its toll on the mental health of people in India and worldwide.
What Studies regarding Mental Health in India now reveal?
1. Indians may be more vulnerable to mental health conditions
If you are to go through the studies regarding the impact of the COVID19 Pandemic you would realize that as much as 10% of the total adult population in India meet the diagnostic criteria for a mental health condition. These range from mood and anxiety disorders to several mental illnesses. This is as per the report of a mental health survey in India. What is also worrying is the fact that as on date even before the outbreak of the current pandemic more than one-third of the total female suicides are from India. This only goes to show that Indians are more vulnerable to the mental ills that the current COVID19 pandemic is causing.
2. Phases how mental health in India is likely to be affected
According to mental experts, the pandemic is likely to have an impact on the mental health of people in 2 phases. The first is the acute phase. This is the phase when the lockdown is continuing, and the cases have surged in the country. The second phase would unfold in the coming months. This is the phase when to some extent the virus might be contained. However, the economic fallout as a result of the Pandemic would show up. It is in this phase the bite of the pandemic on the mental health would be severe.
As of now, experts in the field feel that we are still in the acute state. In this stage, people are terrified of the spread of the disease and when they fear that they too might fall prey to the dreaded disease. Experts feel that for millions fear the problems that they might have at their job owing to the economic disruption. Apart from these, there are other concerns too these include daily worries the problems one may face to reach the place of work in these times when public transport is hardly available. There are also worries about the lack of access to routine medical health services, the shortage of medical supplies, and so on. These if they are prolonged could have a major adverse impact on the mental health of people. In case you too are going through similar situations, you must not ignore them and ensure that they are attended to promptly.
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