The Impact of the Pandemic- How Is Mental Health One Year Later?
Exactly one year ago, on the 13th of March, high school students across the country received the news that would dramatically change the course of their remaining school year: schools would be shutting down. Since March 13th, students, teachers, and parents have all witnessed an extensive change in the state of healthcare and politics in the United States. For some individuals, the year flew by in a heartbeat, and it is difficult to comprehend that 2020 is over. For others, pre-Covid times feel like a lifetime ago.
Regardless of these diverging perspectives, it is important to stop and reflect on the previous year. COVID-19 has brought great change to all individuals- regardless of geographic location, gender, ethnicity, or other factors- and this week in particular marks the first anniversary of the onset of the pandemic’s disruption to everyday lives. This impact has proven to be extensive and long-lasting. It has wreaked havoc on the already existing healthcare disparities between minority groups; it has spurred the global onset of depression, anxiety, and eating disorders; it has exacerbated the partisan divide in the United States even further, and it has negatively impacted both the economy and the education system.
Even though we are hopefully nearing the end of rising cases, there are still a vast number of challenges that the pandemic presents to us. Whether that be the emerging B.1.1.7 coronavirus variant, the ‘anti-vax’ protestors blocking vaccine distribution, the need for $1400 stimulus checks to combat economic instability in American households, or numerous other pressing issues, there is still much up for speculation.
All in all, this year has been the source of great chaos, and it will probably be the largest political, economic, and healthcare disruption many of us will ever experience in our lives. As the week of March 13th, 2021 draws to a close, signaling the first anniversary of the countrywide lockdown, it is important that we examine the far-reaching impact of the pandemic on mental health and how we can care for ourselves going forward.
Global Mental Health And The Pandemic Impact
How is mental health impacted during this crisis?
In a survey done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, researchers sought to study changes in the mental health of young adults as an impact of the pandemic. Out of the 5142 individuals that participated, more than half of respondents reported severe damage to their mental health. Specifically, over 31% of them experienced major anxiety and depression symptoms, and 25% of them contemplated suicide as a result of COVID-19.
These statistics are not surprising, as researchers all across the globe are witnessing an increase in mental health disorders. Months of isolation and grief coupled with the political upheaval have only continued to exacerbate the issue- especially amongst young people.
“For a lot of younger adults, this is probably the first, if not the biggest, adversity that they’ve ever faced,” explains Vaile Wright, a senior director and clinical psychologist at the American Psychological Association.“When you think about, developmentally, what should be happening when you’re younger, it should be about developing autonomy and your own sense of identity away from your family, and not everybody can do that right now. Coupled on top of the loss of milestones like graduations, and putting off starting school or going to college, and the (potential) actual loss of loved ones, it’s a combination of all these factors that make it really challenging for Gen Z right now” (Today).
Unfortunately, the impact of the pandemic transcends merely an emotional scale. Individuals are increasingly resorting to unhealthy coping mechanisms, thereby compromising their physical health as well. For example, alcoholism during the pandemic has rapidly soared, with researchers finding that over 60% of individuals reporting increased drinking (NCBI) as a direct result of pandemic-related stress, boredom, and unhappiness. Unhealthy weight gain over the past year has also been an alarming issue, which is attributed to a majorly sedentary lifestyle and mental health difficulties- such as an increase in emotional eating.
The endless mental health surveys across the internet all account for the numerous physical and psychological repercussions the pandemic has caused. Some of us have experienced symptoms more severe than others, but the impact of the pandemic has reached every single person in its own form.
How Can We Care For Our Mental Health?
With this knowledge, it’s necessary to start looking towards the future and finding ways to better cope with our pertinent challenges.
Although easier said than done, the most important thing right now is avoiding permanent decisions in an attempt to ease this temporary reality. As more Americans are venturing towards the brink of suicide, they are making a consequential decision that will alter their lives (and their loved ones) for years after the COVID-19 is fully over. A survey of over 12,000 Americans by the August Pew Research Center found that more than 60% of the American population is hesitant about a quick return to normalcy after the pandemic; many of us believe it will be more than a year before society can function as it did pre-COVID. This extensive wait can feel both daunting and discouraging.
However, there are still so many ways to prioritize mental health.
- Exercising consistently and making sure to prioritize sustainable nutrition (accounting for both quality and quantity of foods)
- Checking up on family and friends to combat loneliness, rebuild relationships, and experience greater social interaction
- Maintaining a clear balance between work and personal life to help cope with stress and reduce burnout
- Going out in nature more often (wherever possible!) to reap the benefits that fresh air and greenery bestows
- Avoiding heavy reliance on drug/alcohol/vaping products to minimize addiction and maximize physical health
- Sleeping more to combat exhaustion, regulate emotional health, and prioritize self-care
- Limiting heavy social media usage and focusing on being present in your respective surroundings
- Seeking therapy services (especially the variety available online) if additional support is needed
Of course, we must also not forget to simply sit back and let ourselves feel our emotions.
“One of the most important pieces here is to find ways to process all that this past year has done to us and for us,” emphasizes a clinical psychologist at NYU Langone Health, Jessica Stern. “It’s ushered in a lot of hopelessness and confusion, and for a lot of people if not almost all people, there was this sense of feeling like there was a standstill, and we felt stuck or like we didn’t know when we would be able to proceed with ‘regularly scheduled programming.’ I think processing what that has been like is important.”
Some days are harder than others. Somedays, it can be difficult to find motivation for the same tasks that we did with ease pre-pandemic. But as Stern explains, we cannot move forward unless we process all that’s happened in this past year. This one-year anniversary of the pandemic may grant us all the opportunity to do so.
Impact Of The Pandemic Five Years Ahead
Despite the challenges we’re currently facing, there is still hope for the future.
Vaccine distribution is at the highest it has been, with over two million Americans receiving their vaccine shots each day. Moreover, researchers are starting to see a general trend in the decline of cases, despite the emerging contagious variants of the virus. As vaccine rollout continues over the next couple of months, all Americans can hope to be vaccinated by the summertime.
“We’re now on track to have enough supply for 300 million Americans by the end of July,” announced President Joe Biden to the public in February. Biden’s team is already on track to succeed in their initial goal of administering 100 million vaccines in his first 100 days of office. “That’s just the floor,” Biden said. “Our end goal is beating COVID-19” (US News).
Vaccine distribution, alongside the warm weather and rapidly approaching summer plans, can give many of us something to look forward to.
Overall, the impact of the pandemic has touched the lives of individuals all around the world. Many Americans have struggled with finding ways to stay positive, and our country still has a long way to go to return to normalcy; however, as we continue trying to beat COVID-19 over the next few months, there are a plethora of ways to prioritize both our mental and physical health. We have the power to reduce the amount of harm the pandemic causes.
