Introduction
Compared to previous pandemics, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread quickly. Estimates of the world’s mental health problems are required without delay to provide more effective global planning and management of these issues. Psychological discomfort was exacerbated by a lack of therapy, uncertainty about the virus’s control, and the dread of catching the infection itself. During this pandemic, there has been an increase in the prevalence of issues related to mental health across all age groups and cultures in different countries. This has become another significant worldwide public health concern. Before establishing the necessary plans for resolving the issue, policymakers need to have a solid understanding of the scope of the problem. This study was carried out to offer an approximation of the numerous issues relating to mental health that COVID-19 brought about during the first seven months of the outbreak.
Purpose
The primary objective of this research is to investigate the degree of mental diseases such as depression amid the economic crisis caused by the COVID 19 pandemic. The widespread coronavirus infection 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has affected people in every region of the world. People’s mental health has suffered due to the prolonged state of uncertainty and isolation imposed by the quarantine. To more effectively prepare for and oversee the management of these problems on a worldwide scale, mental health concerns must be addressed as quickly as possible. The first seven months of this pandemic were devoted to gathering data for a preliminary evaluation of the extent of mental health complications. Peer-reviewed, data-based journal papers in the English language were sought for in PubMed and academic journals between December 2019 and June 2020
Methodology
According to the study’s methodology, researchers used cross-sections and studies published in databases such as PubMed or Web of Science from December 1, 2020, to June 30, 2020, to analyze the prevalence of depression among those affected by the coronavirus pandemic and to report on it (Lakhan et al., 2020). Only publications that were based on data were taken into consideration for inclusion. Cross-sectional methods are less expensive and time-consuming than other study forms; hence, the researcher utilized them. The ability to gather data from a wide pool of people and examine the variations across groups is made possible by cross-sectional investigations.
The fact that the included research papers used a cross-sectional approach means the study had smaller sample sizes and required participants to self-administer the tests. The only information that has been gleaned through research investigations is points of prevalence. This was a quick scoping assessment, and as a result, several databases could not be included in the analysis because of the time constraints imposed by the situation. The only considered articles were those written in English, and any gray literature was disregarded. Consequently, the review cannot promise to include all research on the subject that might either underestimate or overstate the prevalence. Only the first seven months of a child’s life are included in this study; therefore, the prevalence rates may change over time.
Results
During the first seven months of the COVID-19 pandemic, this research aimed to investigate the frequency of mental health conditions such as sadness, anxiety, stress, and sleeplessness. The findings of this study are in line with those of the researchers who sought to offer a comprehensive view of the prevalence rates. In this review, the papers that satisfied the criteria for inclusion were scrutinized, and their content was discussed. There was a total of 16 different research projects.
Eleven of the studies were written by Chinese or Asian researchers; two were conducted in India, while Spain, Italy, and Iran contributed to one study. Depression was up at 20, anxiety at 35%, and stress at 53% of 113,285 participants (Lakhan et al., 2020). During the COVID-19 outbreak, it was found that the general population had significantly higher rates of depression, anxiety, stress, sleeplessness, and other types of psychological discomfort. A higher prevalence of anxiety and depression was found among the general population in China during the COVID-19 period than in other countries (Necho et al., 2021). This may be due to China being the source of the pandemic, which means that the people lack early knowledge and emergency readiness at the beginning of the epidemic, which might lead to a psychological crisis.
Discussion
The widespread COVID-19 outbreak presented a new set of difficulties to the general populace. Anxiety over the danger of contracting an infection, changes in home dynamics, and mood dysregulation are just a few of the many issues that must be dealt with in dealing with this challenging situation (Harjana et al., 2021). They may have short- and long-term consequences for your bodily and emotional well-being. As a result of the outbreak, people are experiencing a great deal of anxiety and stress, which may put their mental well-being and capacity for recovery. Psychosocial stresses such as life disruption, illness, worry, or fear of adverse economic implications may have exacerbated depression, anxiety, stress, and insomnia symptoms. Several elements contribute to patients’ high levels of psychological distress, including the feeling of danger, mortality rates, food scarcity, and stigma and discrimination (Parvar et al., 2022). Patients’ mental health may be harmed further if there is still uncertainty regarding the trial result due to the lack of a proven treatment drug or vaccination for COVID-19.
Since the beginning, the situation with COVID-19 has not yet significantly evolved. In the race to create a vaccine, little progress has been made. Until a long-term antidote to this virus is developed, it is quite likely that the whole planet will continue to exist in a condition of uncertainty somewhat dissimilar to the current one. According to this cross-sectional research, the number of people suffering from mental health issues will continue to rise in the future (Radwan et al., 2021). Experiences of psychological discomfort and worry that go unaddressed for an extended period are likely to culminate in more significant mental health problems. According to this analysis, mental health issues, particularly those connected to adjustment and phobia, have become more prevalent. Although these studies were conducted in underdeveloped countries, there is no scientific estimate of such mental health concerns in other countries, particularly in affluent nations with more COVID-19-related fatalities.
Some mental health issues may not need specialized medical or therapeutic treatment; instead, they may be resolved via efforts on the part of the community. Although the COVID-19’s psychological connotations have caused feelings of despair and worry, they have resulted in negative consequences that have harmed many people’s mental health. During and after a pandemic, vulnerable populations’ mental health should be evaluated and treated through psychological therapies to maintain a person’s mental health (Radwan et al., 2021). During and after a pandemic, the mental health of those most at risk should be closely examined to make sure they are as healthy as possible.
This research indicates that mental health concerns, especially those linked to adjustment and phobia, have increased. This is particularly true for individuals who have less education. After the epidemic is over, there is a pressing need to immediately begin working to mitigate the pandemic’s negative impact on people’s mental health and elevate this issue to the top of the public health agenda. As a component of the action plan to ensure the citizens’ well-being after the pandemic has passed, people’s mental health must be given utmost attention by national and international health institutions.
Conclusion
This paper presents an analysis that reveals a significant incidence of depression, anxiety, stress, and sleeplessness compared to normal time. Suicidal and self-destructive inclinations might grow if ignored over a lengthy period. The COVID-19 epidemic exemplifies how important it is to diagnose and treat mental health disorders on time among the general population. During the pandemic period of COVID-19, anxiety, sadness, and psychological anguish were commonplace among the general populace. There is a wide range of anxiety levels depending on where the research was conducted, the kind of measurement utilized, and the sample size. There is a significant correlation between the country where the research was conducted and the prevalence of depression in the general population. To reduce the psychological and mental health consequences of COVID-19, physicians, policymakers, and future researchers should be aware of the issue and act appropriately. Chronic monitoring is necessary to maintain tabs on the population’s slowly growing number of mental health crises. Future comprehensive research will be important to understand the pandemic’s effects better and offer a roadmap to effective remedies.
References
Harjana, N. P. A., Januraga, P. P., Indrayathi, P. A., Gesesew, H. A., & Ward, P. R. (2021). Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Among Repatriated Indonesian Migrant Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Frontiers in Public Health, 9. Web.
Lakhan, R., Agrawal, A., & Sharma, M. (2020). Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress during COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice, 11(04), 519–525. Web.
Necho, M., Tsehay, M., Birkie, M., Biset, G., & Tadesse, E. (2021). Prevalence of anxiety, depression, and psychological distress among the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 67(7), 892–906. Web.
Parvar, S. Y., Ghamari, N., Pezeshkian, F., & Shahriarirad, R. (2022). Prevalence of anxiety, depression, stress, and perceived stress and their relation with resilience during the COVID ‐19 pandemic, a cross‐sectional study. Health Science Reports, 5(1). Web.
Radwan, E., Radwan, A., Radwan, W., & Pandey, D. (2021). Prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study among Palestinian students (10–18 years). BMC Psychology, 9(1). Web.