Page 101 - e-Buletin FSK Edisi November Bil. 01 / 2021

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THE MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGE POSED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Dr. Asma Perveen
Clinical Psychologist/ Senior lecturer

Psychology and Counselling Department

pandemic has unprecedented effects on, physical, psychological health, financial, educational and social
well-being around the world. The consequences of COVID-19 related to mental health are important to be
understood and resolute to help community. People are struggling to cope up with restriction and limitation
of life activities. Fear, worry, and stress are normal responses to perceived or real threats, and at times
when we are faced with uncertainty or the unknown. So, it is understandable that people are experiencing
fear in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the prolonged contexts of stress and fear are causing
severe mental health challenges, including, anxiety, depression and suicidal ideations. Stress is known
leading cause of mental health issues, and in the current situation the continuous pressure toward social
restrictions, limitations of activities is causing significant effects in escalating the mental health
issues. Movement restriction, social distance, and virus fear significantly affect the overall functioning of
humans and still we are facing the challenges. The perception of pandemic-related stress, social support,
and using different coping strategies, are very important to help people so they can take care of their own
mental well-being by using healthy strategies. Social isolation itself caused a huge impact on psychological
well-being and adds to the vulnerability of developing mental health problems. Working from home became
ultimatum alongside with managing family and kids. Students have struggling time to manage their online
classes and their family and financial issues with less and no emotional and social support. The COVID-
19 pandemic has brought into focus the mental health of various affected populations. It is known that the
prevalence of epidemics accentuates or creates new stressors including fear and worry for oneself or loved
ones, constraints on physical movement and social activities due to quarantine, and sudden and radical
lifestyle changes. The cognitive and emotional processing of stress related to COVID-19 is creating
significant psychological impacts. Changing the pattern of lifestyle behaviour to accommodate the new
dimensions of changes related to social distance, and personal well-being is a source of frustration,
tiredness and burdening for many individuals. Teachers and students are going through their own
challenges due to the transection of face to face to online mode of education. The readiness, motivation
and efficacy towards online transaction, caused mental health provocations. During this pandemic, people
are stressed to maintain their psychological well-being and need more help with coping strategies and
management. Coping response to this adverse situation that attempted to manage stress through different
mechanisms, are especially appraisal-focused, problem-focused, and emotional-focused coping
approaches. Mental healthcare workers are required to highlight the psychological impact and helping
resources for people to comprehend and regulate their state of mental health through appropriate and
healthy coping mechanisms. There is need to highlight the significance of the psychological impact of
stress and coping strategies during the Covid-19 pandemic, its consequences, and requirements for timely
and effective management of mental health problems due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The mental health
challenge posed by the Covid-19 pandemic is unfolding new strategies to inform, prevent, and manage the
issues worldwide with the help of mental health practitioners.

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