Lockdown and its Effect on Mental Health
By Comfort Yakubu
Confinement, or the current lockdown due to COVID-19 affects us in different ways , depending on our peculiar circumstance, experience and needs.
With the corona virus crises, came a lockdown which has made face-to-face contact with friends and family, and other routines difficult. The lockdown no doubt would help mitigate the spread of this disease.
However, Mental health experts warn that the global Covid-19 pandemic and the national lockdown can have a negative impact on people’s mental health and well-being.
These include but not limited to depression , anxiety, drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence, child abuse , low mood, insomnia, stress, anger, irritability and emotional exhaustion.
Unfortunately, People at risk of domestic violence may have limited opportunities to seek help because of lock down and social distancing.
The World Health Organization(WHO) has said that cases of domestic violence across the globe have seen a spike amid lockdowns; ’’there are reports from some countries of an increase in domestic violence since the COVID-19 outbreak began. As people are asked to stay at home, the risk of intimate partner violence is likely to increase’’.
The world Health Organization calls on countries to include services for addressing domestic violence as an essential service that must continue during the COVID-19 response
According to the global health body , ‘’ it is natural for people to experience stress, anxiety , loneliness and so on, during lockdown. The main psychological impact to date is elevated rates of stress or anxiety, as new measures and impacts are introduced, especially quarantine and its effects on many people’s usual activities, routines or livelihoods, levels of loneliness, depression, harmful alcohol , drug use, and self-harm or suicidal behavior are also expected to rise’’.
People with existing mental health conditions like depression will likely be more affected by the lockdown especially if faced with isolation, as well as those whose job security seem threatened, given the uncertainty of how long the coronavirus epidemic will last.
Experts have warned that the impact of lockdown on our mental wellbeing is unlikely to disappear the moment we’re allowed outside of the house again, and that the worsening of mental illness could persist for years after the pandemic. They advised that action be taken now to support those struggling.
Dr Ephraim Oluwanuga , Chief Consultant Psychiatrist National Hospital Abuja tells us how to stay mentally healthy and cope in a lock down
She explains that Some of the things that could happen to people under a lock down , include at first, a sense of disorientation ,people are at a loss ,some have difficulty handling stress, anxiety over their jobs begin to set in as they worry about losing the jobs or wonder if there business will pick up again, even as others fear job loss .
People will also deal with boredom, and anxiety which also makes them short tempered.
She added that already it has been documented there is an increase in violence, when people go to work it reduces exposure ,but with staying at home, people get at each other’’
To stay mentally healthy she says , ‘’Accept the fact about this lockdown, don’t spend most of your time listening to negative news on COVID-19, adding that hearing it over and over again is going to increase your anxiety.
She advised that people should maintain a healthy lifestyle, realize there is life after COVID-19,Catch up on other things, don’t let anxiety rob you of the time you have, find a new hobby or interests , don’t be isolated physically, stay in touch with loved ones as this is the time to make those calls you have not had time to make all this years’’.
‘’Demand can be stressful especially at this time, you need to realize you can’t meet the need of everybody, therefor identify those who you are responsible for, be realistic don’t go beyond your means otherwise you will find yourself in financial stress, Don’t feel overwhelmed. Do your best, don’t turn to drugs and alcohol or comfort eating’’.
‘’Do physical exercises and keep your brain active, look for things to be grateful for, appreciate humanity ,think of those who lost loved once pray for them, value your family and do your best to keep your thoughts positive’’ she says.
Comfort Yakubu writes from Gudu Abuja
