Figures confirm the impact of the pandemic on mental health

The pandemic is eroding the mental health of millions of individuals.

Confinement, financial anguish, physical and social distancing, fear of contagion, concern for family and friends, uncertainty;

the list of everyday obstacles is not short.

Journalistic pieces, academic studies and expert opinions present an uphill panorama.

A few days ago, what is the largest work on the subject so far was released.

And their conclusions confirm the seriousness of the matter.

“We were inspired by analyzes we conducted previously on the impact of the Ebola outbreaks on the mental health of some African communities,” says Jude Mary Cénat, professor of clinical psychology at the University of Ottawa and leader of the group of experts that led carried out this research on covid 19 recently published in the scientific journal

.

The Canadian team conducted a meta-analysis with data from 55 international studies (with more than 190,000 participants) conducted between January and May.

Much of this information came from China, but they also used figures from work carried out in Italy, the United States, Peru, Spain, Iran, among other countries.

"Despite the fact that the Chinese studies were the most abundant, their results did not show differences in weight with other areas of the world," says Cénat.

The experts found that the prevalence of insomnia was 24%, that of post-traumatic stress disorder reached 22%, that of depression stood at 16% and that of anxiety reached 15%.

The article highlights that post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression were, respectively, five, four and three times more frequent compared to what the World Health Organization (WHO) usually reports.

“No significant differences were observed by gender or geographic region;

nor among the general population and health workers, except in the case of insomnia ”, indicates the article.

The analysis showed that sleep problems were twice as pronounced among these workers.

“We need further research to better understand this difference.

Much data has been published in the last three months and a longitudinal study is essential.

However, other work we did on mental health in the wake of the earthquake in Haiti provides clues.

We found that levels of depression and anxiety were higher among Haitians who left the country quickly compared to those who stayed.

When you're in the front lines, you can't afford to lower your arms.

And insomnia is a way in which your fears and worries are manifested, ”says Cénat.

“No significant differences were observed by gender or geographic region;

nor among the general population and health workers, except in the case of insomnia ”, more frequent in health

The Canadians' work maintains - taking into account previous research - that insomnia can trigger other problems, such as depression and suicidal ideas.

In this way, Jude Mary Cénat and her team warn of the risk to the mental health of health workers as these individuals are less exposed to the pandemic.

Cénat mentions that a study they conducted in the Democratic Republic of the Congo showed that mental health problems among personnel who fought against Ebola increased after cases of the disease declined.

“It is necessary to accompany these workers.

Carry out a follow-up, create a support network, detect who will need help ”, adds Cénat.

In October, the WHO published a report where it noted that the COVID-19 crisis has disrupted or paralyzed critical mental health services in 93% of the world's countries.

The agency also stressed that the health emergency has increased the need for these services.

"World leaders must act swiftly and decisively to invest more in life-saving mental health programs, during the pandemic and beyond," said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

“These services were reduced or stopped in a period of great impact on mental health, both for people who already had problems and others who began to suffer them.

We should have shown greater understanding and innovation, ”says Cénat.

The professor at the University of Ottawa insists that it is necessary to continue working with the studies that are being published: “For example, sociodemographic characteristics and other elements that serve to build an effective response plan for this and other pandemics must be taken into account. .

We must also incorporate the data of the people who contracted covid 19 ".

Regarding this last point, a study published in early November in

that 18% of patients in the United States who contracted the coronavirus were diagnosed with a mental health problem between 14 and 90 days after testing positive for covid 19.

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