Mental Health Crisis in India: Unveiling the Impact of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in anxiety, despair, dread, and psychological distress in addition to an existing high burden, a treatment gap, and a shortage of mental health specialists. Anxiety, depression, and stress were factors that affect sleep; many people had also reported experiencing insomnia and other sleep disruptions. Cases of increasing health anxiety and the presence of chronic sickness further heightened the fear of the pandemic. Women responded with greater fear and were more sensitive to stress. Anxiety and depression were also more prevalent in single people, students, and those with a history of mental illness. Single persons had higher levels of worry and tension, which can be explained by the emotional support they received from friends and family.

People are social creatures; therefore, having less social interaction and having limited access to necessities during a lockdown left them feeling depressed, helpless, and tired. The duration of the lockdown was directly correlated with the results of mental health. A sizable section of the populace suffered financially as a result of the lockdown, mainly migrants who lost their employment overnight. Work and income were similarly impacted for the working population. This socioeconomic hardship was an additional stressor that harmed mental health by causing anger and worry.

Impact on Vulnerable Populations

This period was particularly difficult for the groups that were already vulnerable. In addition to the financial effects of the lockdown, migratory workers are more susceptible to contagious diseases because of their socioeconomic background, filthy living conditions, lack of sanitization, and malnourishment. Pre-existing mental health disorders are also common; they may become more severe as a result of the epidemic, restricted access to consultations, and the subsequent migratory crisis following the lockdown.

Elderly: Amplified Vulnerability and Mental Health Risks

Due to their advanced age, the elderly had a threefold higher risk of death, a higher need for hospitalization, a worse prognosis, a quicker rate of disease exacerbation, and a more extended recovery period.

Their dread of COVID-19 has increased since they were aware of their vulnerability. Chronic stress, loneliness, hopelessness, anxiety, and depression were all brought on by quarantine. Mental health issues can be chronic and worsen, particularly in the second wave when hospital beds, oxygen, and ventilators are few.

Exacerbation of Pre-existing Mental Health Conditions

The epidemic, lockdown, and quarantine worsened the symptoms and causes relapses in people who already have mental health issues. Anxiety and generalized anxiety disorder caused excessive fear of the worst, health worries, and other symptoms.

OCD patients may see an increase in their washing and checking routines due to the epidemic. Schizophrenia patients may continue to suffer paranoid delusions, while depression patients may have worsening of their symptoms and hallucinations. Relapse and suicide risk are also very high. Another concern noted is the need to discontinue treatment if medications are unavailable.

Effects on Youth and Teenagers

Lockdowns, quarantines, and pandemics worsened the symptoms and caused relapses in people who already struggled with mental health issues. Anxiety, including generalized anxiety disorder, was characterized by excessive fear of the worst, health worries, etc. Due to the nature of the pandemic, patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder found that their washing and checking rituals had escalated.

Hallucinations and worsening of symptoms were common in depression patients, and paranoid delusions could linger in schizophrenia patients. Suicide and relapse were also very likely. Another concern was noted regarding treatment halting because medications were unavailable.

Challenges Related to Adolescent Mental Health

Teenagers were also found to be depressed and anxious due to concerns about their health, spreading COVID-19 to loved ones, and fear of contracting the virus. Experiences of hopelessness, spontaneous weeping fits, insomnia, difficulty finding satisfaction in hobbies, concern over future job chances, and feeling distant from friends were observed in Adolescent’s Mental Health.

While several helpful coping mechanisms to deal with the epidemic and social isolation were noted, these included developing new interests, leading a healthy lifestyle with exercise and a balanced diet, and utilizing technology to stay in constant contact with loved ones.

Effects on Students: Stress and Academic Disruption

Being a student was linked to an increased risk of anxiety, sadness, stress, irregular sleep habits, and other conditions. The current state of affairs induced fear, along with disrupted routines due to school closures and an abrupt shift in the educational approach, all contributed to the emergence of mental health issues. The abrupt shift in the educational system presented new difficulties for both educators and learners, with both parties facing challenges related to inadequate digital infrastructure and skills.

Students' satisfaction with online classes was negatively affected by insufficient time to prepare for the transition. Student suicides were facilitated by the lack of smartphone access among impoverished segments of society. Additionally, there was a negative impact on the deficiency of peer relationships and their significance in fostering motivation and social skills. Many students utilized social media sites such as Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp, and other platforms as a means of stress relief and communication. Other stress-relieving activities such as watching web series, gaming, reading, meditation, resting, and listening to music were primarily employed to alleviate tension.

Healthcare Workers' Struggles on the Front Lines

The pandemic took a toll on the physical and mental well-being of frontline healthcare staff members. Working at the forefront of the epidemic, a significant number of doctors were lost to the disease in both waves due to constant patient exposure and a higher virus load in India.

Long work hours, witnessing death and suffering, and caring for a steady stream of patients resulted in mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, stress, burnout, sleeplessness, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Worries about contracting the virus, the inadequacies of the healthcare system, anxiety about not being able to stop its spread, and stress from their jobs all contributed to their mental health issues. Nurses' anxiety and distress levels increased with longer exposure times.

Higher levels of anxiety and depression were associated with demographic risk variables, including being younger (20–35 years old), female, working as nurses, being unmarried, and having a lesser educational background. For many, being a very experienced doctor was the only thing that kept them safe. Individuals who contracted the sickness reported experiencing a depressed mood throughout and expressed dread of dying, being seriously ill again, and getting infected after rejoining.

Families of healthcare workers who lost loved ones to the epidemic experienced other mental health problems including protracted mourning disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, brought on by persistent worry of contracting the sickness, losing loved ones, and being unable to say goodbye.

Deaths by suicide related to COVID-19

Additionally, quarantine resulted in significant psychological suffering, with suicidality stemming from financial loss, loneliness, boredom, anxiety, sadness, and other negative emotions, especially for those with pre-existing mental health issues.

The dread of contracting COVID-19, financial difficulties, pressure to undergo quarantine, testing positive for the virus, being unable to return home due to lockdown, loneliness, and work-related stress were frequent causes. With an increase in anxiety, sadness, suicidal thoughts, and terror, the second wave had a catastrophic effect on mental health, leading to increased suicide rates among COVID-19-affected individuals, including healthcare workers and families who lost loved ones to the virus.

Cities like Jamshedpur saw a surge in suicide cases as the second wave began, with the number of suicides nearly doubling each month. Students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds were another group impacted by the pandemic. Many experienced issues due to the shift to online learning, with some resorting to suicide due to lack of access to smartphones, inability to afford education, and job loss due to lockdown. Reports of such occurrences emerged from several states, including West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.

How Can Samarpan Help?

Access to certified therapists and counselors who specialize in treating mental health conditions like stress, anxiety, and depression that have been exacerbated by the pandemic is made possible by Samarpan. By using evidence-based therapies such as mindfulness-based techniques and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), people can investigate and treat the underlying reasons of their mental health issues, create coping mechanisms, and cultivate resilience in the face of hardship. In addition, Samarpan provides family members suffering from the psychological effects of addiction with individual counseling and therapy sessions. Our certified therapists offer empathetic assistance, direction, and coping mechanisms to enable family members to put their own health first while aiding in the rehabilitation of their loved one.