Impact of Covid-19 on mental health and associated losses

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Shahul-Hameed, Manju; Foster, John; Finnerty, Gina and Pentaris, Panagiotis. 2021. Impact of Covid-19 on mental health and associated losses. In: Panagiotis Pentaris, ed. Death, Grief and Loss in the Context of COVID-19. Abingdon: Routledge, pp. 160-177. ISBN 9780367647322 [Book Section]

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Official URL: https://www.routledge.com/Death-Grief-and-Loss-in-...

Abstract or Description

The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic downturn have negatively affected many people’s mental health and created new barriers for people already suffering from mental illness. Hospitals have become mostly coronavirus receiving stations and patients with cancer, mental health patients and other health conditions are no longer a priority. Many patients with these conditions have had their treatment rightly stopped and saw a wider scale rationing of services, while medical or non-medical needs continue to be demanding, resulting in simultaneous impact. As the pandemic wears on, it is likely the mental health burden will increase as measures taken to slow the spread of the virus, such as contact-tracing and quarantine, social and physical distancing, business and school closures lead to greater isolation and potential financial distress. Though necessary to prevent loss of life due to COVID-19, these public health measures expose many people to experiencing situations that are linked to poor mental health outcomes, such as isolation, anxiety, depression, job loss and suicidal ideation. Economic downturns are usually associated with higher suicide rates compared with periods of relative prosperity. Covid-19 has resulted in a surge in the numbers for participants taking the free suicide prevention training means, this emergency will leave a mental health legacy in its wake, a legacy that could inflict a damaging toll on the public at large as well as the NHS frontline staff. The chapter concludes by providing policy recommendation and amendments to meet the needs, exacerbated by the pandemic for the people with mental illness as the increased need for mental health services will likely become a long-term problem. It is also important for the policy makers to consider changes in a variety of economic, psychosocial, and health-associated risk factors.

Key points
• Reflection on the learning through the lens of publications, research, newspaper articles and social media.
• Explore how mental health is misbalanced in people’s lives
• Preventing loss of life due to COVID-19 lead to poor mental health outcomes, such as isolation, anxiety, depression, job loss and suicidal ideation.
• Providing policy recommendation and amendments to meet the needs, exacerbated by the pandemic for the people with mental illness.

Item Type:

Book Section

Identification Number (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003125990