ARTICLE | Mental Wellness
Global Mental Health The Shadow Pandemic Akshit Pushkarna Editorial Assistant
T
he coronavirus pandemic outbreak has led the world to a standstill for the better part of the year. But COVID-19 may not be the only health complication that affects people in this extraordinary situation. Cases of various other health disorders may rise in the near future as a consequence, as suggested by various experts. The most significant and apparent of these pseudo endemics
38 May 2020 | www.urbanupdate.in
that might ensue in the near future is not a physical disorder, but, mental. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and its parent body, the United Nations, have pointed out the urgency that is required to check the surge in mental disorders due to isolation. “After decades of neglect and under-investment in mental health services, the Covid-19 pandemic is now hitting families and communities with additional mental stress. Even when the pandemic is brought under control, grief, anxiety, and depression will continue to affect people and communities,” Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General, UN, said. Studies
in countries like the United States have shown that mental health issues were prevalent in approximately 45 per cent of the country’s population. Similarly, for Australia, a country that has comparatively kept the outbreak under control, top resident mental health experts predict that the social impact of the lockdown may result in an increment of 50 per cent in the suicide rates of the country. As governments across the world redirect their healthcare facilities towards dealing with the crisis at hand, psychosocial support and emergency mental care have taken the back seat. Also, the problems faced by the people with pre-existing mental disorders due to this have been generally underreported. India, not unlike the rest of the world, has seen a surge in the number of reported mental health issues since the lockdown has been imposed. A survey conducted by The Mavericks India titled ‘e-Rebooting 2020: A Story of COVID-19, and Shifting Perceptions’ has found that 61 per cent of Indians are currently dealing with mental health related issues due to the looming financial crisis and rise in unemployment due to the lockdown. “Depression has increased 20 per cent in the people who are living in their house. This is coupled with the anxiety around the risk of catching the virus. This is causing people to reach the peak of general anxiety that we call Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD). This leads an affected person to become absolutely worrisome about small things which has further aggravated due to the pandemic,” Aanchal Chaudhary, an independent practicing psychologist, told Urban Update. To understand the issue better, Urban Update reached out to Sanjivini Society for Mental Health and AASRA, two prominent mental health and suicide prevention helpline NGOs based in Delhi. Responding to the surge
