Pandemic Depression - A Legitimate Concern

News Peg

With stress related to health risks and mental health concerns due to long periods of isolation, a growing issue due to the COVID-19 pandemic has been depression.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a non-profit organization focusing on national health issues, 45% of Americans stated that their mental health has been affected due to “the worry and stress caused by the virus.”

The realities of isolation, job loss, health concerns, and the stress surrounding it all have become not only national issues but international ones.

How It Affects Us 

New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo set up a free mental health service to provide anxiety-depression counseling. Cuomo suggested free sessions over the phone for those in need.

Services like these were set up during traumatic events throughout recent history including post-9/11 trauma.

Dr. Alexander Sanchez, a New York City psychiatrist, told ABC News, “This is a new challenge and the most worrying aspect is the uncertainty. I expect an increase in anxiety and depressive symptoms to come when the experience of social distancing and isolation becomes more routine.”

According to researchers and psychologists, these increased mental health concerns are nothing to be surprised by - it is expected and natural.

Primarily due to the health concerns and sickly environment created by the COVID-19 pandemic, many people both affected directly and indirectly by the virus face anxiety and stress. Whether it be the harsh reality that family members and friends are being impacted by the virus or the stress of social distancing, the virus has certainly formed the seeds for potential depression.

The economic state of not only the nation but the world as a whole is a cause of concern. According to the PEW Research Center, more than half of the lower-income American families reported a pay cut or job loss due to the pandemic. The stress caused by job loss and anxiety from the fear of the unknown economically are certainly emerging.

And isolation in itself is a reason for concern. According to CIGNA, a health insurance company, three in every five Americans are feeling lonely right now.

As discussed in a previous piece, humans are social animals - innately. 

Zlatin Ivanov, a New York-based psychiatrist, told Business Insider, “All our systems, including social, psychological and biological, have developed around social groups and interaction with one another. Social isolation in most cases would bring the negative effect of loneliness, anxiety, and sometimes depression."

What We Can Learn

The CDC, having recognized the significance of addressing mental health concerns, stated the need to take care of each other by - eating healthy, exercising, getting sleep, stretching, and meditating.

The philosophy of self-care matters more than ever. Amidst this pandemic, what brings us the courage to stand up against anxiety and depression are spirituality and self-care techniques.

These include:

• The Need for a Routine - A consistent routine with a proper sleep schedule, staying healthy, and remaining safe bring confidence and steadiness in a time when our environment is vulnerable and constantly changing. The health warnings are basic - social distancing, and remaining hygienically-sound. With those addressed, our mind can focus beyond these concerns, and towards a calm and steady routine. 

• Accepting Aloneness over Loneliness - When alone, our switches immediately look for something else to be stimulated by. Whether it be our phones or Netflix, we begin to fear alone time. And when we are stuck in a house for an extended, uncertain time period like now, this has resulted in the feeling of loneliness. 

• Meditation - There isn’t a better time to meditate. Whether it be a mindfulness practice of being aware of our thoughts or concentrating on a mantra, meditation and concentration can help us feel the positivity in our lives, and become less distracted by negative thoughts. Many studies have shown the positive neurological, psychological and emotional changes that yoga and meditation can provide. One such study showed that individuals with major depressive disorders who attended a 12-week Iyengar Yoga course were found to have improved to match those of people who didn't have depression.

At the core, these techniques may not universally work. But the practices of acceptance, empathy, introspection, and embracement of our moments with ourselves can truly guide us to the light at the end of the tunnel.