The Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health

Mental health affects the way people think, feel and act. Taking care of our mental health is just as important as having a healthy body. The smartphone addict generation was already complaining of sleep disorders when the pandemic turned their issue into “coronasomnia”.

According to a recent survey, 40 percent of Canadians said the pandemic has had a negative impact on their mental health. Many believe, it will stay long after the pandemic is over. 

It’s been more than a year of worrying about getting sick, stay-home restrictions, and economic challenges have taken a toll on Canadians’ mental health.

The second wave of the pandemic has intensified feelings of stress and anxiety, causing alarming levels of despair and hopelessness in the Canadian population. 

When it comes to the pandemic and mental health, we’re not all equal

According to CMHA, 45% of women, compared to 34% of men been treated for mental health problems. Pandemic affect women and men equally, but some are more common among women. Abuse is often a factor in women’s mental health problems. Treatments need to be sensitive to and reflect gender differences.  CMHA findings also say that 51% of Canadians worrying about the safety and effectiveness of the Vaccine.

Pandemic has brought forth a deep sense of fear of the unseen and the unknown for humanity, which coupled with grief, loss, isolation, pain, and anxiety — all emotions that are unpleasant — has impacted our psychological well-being.

Certainly, there have been numerous reports stating a rise in cases of people suffering from mental health issues, such as depression, PTSD, anxiety, suicide, etc.

Even in 2021, with the rising number of COVID-19 cases and the possibility of another lockdown happening, mental health-related issues continue to affect many.

Working remotely surely taught us the news module of working within the comforts of our homes, but one of the biggest downsides of that is the fatigue that one feels after attending virtual meetings and webinars for extended hours.

Pandemic impacting the mental health of young adults

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) can affect children and young people directly and indirectly. CDC developed a COVID-19 Parental Resource Kit.

It ensures Children and Young People’s Social, Emotional, and Mental Well-being to help support parents, caregivers, and other adults serving children and young people.

Social distancing and the pandemic have certainly made us more and more lonely, thus social isolation has become a pressing issue.

Social media, FaceTime, and Zoom calls can’t replace the human touch, Our social interactions have changed.

Will vaccinations put an end to mental illness caused by the worry of the disease?

With vaccinations ramping up, we should be seeing the light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel.

Unfortunately many are anxious that people are getting complacent and no longer exercising the needed diligence to remain safe until the bulk of the population has been inoculated.

What does mental toughness or resilience mean?

The term “Resilience,” commonly used in relation to positive mental health. It is actually borrowed from engineering, where it refers to the ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape.

It determines how we manage our thoughts, emotions, energy, and productivity. Mental toughness (or resilience) means that you can cope better with hardship and negativity.

You can also train yourself into healthy habits that will keep you thinking and behaving positively.

Mental resilience is a skill that can improve. Here’s how:

From meditation to fitness and art-related activities, there are several different strategies and techniques used to improve mental toughness:

1. Improve physical health

Try to eat well and get exercise if you can. Often when we’re physically fit we tend to have a bit more energy which then makes taking on problems a bit easier

2. Skill Acquisition

In psychology, skill refers to any competent, rapid, and accurate performance, including a wide range of mental activities. Acquiring new skills can play an important part in building resilience. Acquiring new skills within a group setting gives the added benefit of social support, which also cultivates resilience.

3. Try to Stay Motivated

Creating small, actionable steps makes our goals achievable, and helps us to regularly work towards these goals, creating small “wins” along the way. Try to accomplish one small step towards your goal every day.

4. Make connections

Resilience can be strengthened through our connection to family, friends, and community. A healthy relationship offers support during difficult times and can help us to reclaim hope. Likewise, assisting others in their time of need can benefit us greatly and foster our own sense of resilience.

5. Accept that change is a part of living

We all learned that change can happen quickly and at any point in life. This means, understanding that things can and will be different from how they are now. As a result of difficult circumstances, certain goals may no longer be realistic or attainable.

By accepting that which you cannot change, it allows you to focus on the things that you do have control over.

6. Nurture a positive view of yourself

Working to develop confidence in yourself can be beneficial in building mental resilience. Having a positive view of yourself is crucial when it comes to problem-solving and trusting your own instincts.

7. Keep things in perspective.

When times get tough, always remember that things could be worse; try to avoid blowing things out of proportion. In cultivating resilience it helps to keep a long-term perspective when facing difficult or painful events.

8. Take decisive actions.

Instead of shying away from problems and stresses, wishing they would just go away, try to take decisive action whenever possible.