The Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Just recently, Michelle Obama revealed that she has battled “low-grade depression” too.
And she’s not alone!
Data from the U.S Census Bureau and the National Centre for Health Statistics reports that out of every 3 Americans, one is battling symptoms of anxiety or stress. As she spoke on “The Michelle Obama Podcast” the former 1st lady admitted that the pandemic, in addition to the racial tension across the United States has undoubtedly affected her mental health.
Mental health has been stigmatized for years, especially among Latinx and African Americans. This is why Michelle Obama talking about suffering from low-grade depression is very important. “We are talking about it, and that’s important,” said Patrice Harris, MD, MA, who is AMA’s Immediate Past President.
The risk of depression has multiplied tenfold with the spread of the pandemic. COVID-19 has resulted in the loss of jobs which has resulted in financial insecurity; the physical distancing rule that is necessary to reduce the spread of the virus has also contributed greatly to mental health issues. For these reasons, having a highly respected person like Michelle Obama admit to her struggles with mental health greatly reduces stigma.
What about the mental health of health care providers?
Every day, the numbers continue to rise. Physicians and health care professionals have been stretched beyond their capacity. Of great concern is the status of their mental health. As much as they have been trained for crises, many health care workers thought of disasters as things that would be time-limited.
However, the pandemic has been unrelenting, to say the least. Healthcare providers have had no opportunity for any downtime. All physicians have been stressed out wondering whether they have the right tools that are needed to get each patient individualized care.
Even worse is the fact that health care professionals have experienced added tension and stress as experts continue to research on how best to provide contextually sensitive treatments that are best for the needs of communities.
France 24
How can you improve your mental health during the pandemic?
The coronavirus is still spreading. At this point, it becomes very important for everyone to examine their mental health and recognize feelings of depression, sadness or anxiety.
You should only rely on information from reputable sources during this pandemic. Inaccurate and misleading data spreads anxiety even further. Again, reaching out to professionals for help is very important when dealing with mental health issues.
Dr. Harris also mentioned how important trust is during these hard times. In the field of mental health especially, it is very crucial for medics that patients trust them enough to open up to them about things they would not share with family or even spouses.
“We must trust and support each other during these tough times.”
Change is necessary. Our environment needs to be more tolerant, empathetic, and less divisive toward people struggling with mental health. We must also equip and empower mental health patients with valid and reliable information that gives them hope and reduces fear
