The Pandemic as a Mental Health Hinge: Why Depression Is Rising Around the World

Before pandemic for him covidit has been estimated that 1 in 6 adults of working age suffer from some type of mental health disorderas depression. The health emergency has led to an increase in the number of people affected by symptoms depression in more than 25%, according to the latest report from the World Health Organization.

Although more than 3 years have passed since the beginning of the emergencythe global crisis is still having an impact on the mental health of many people, according to experts in psychology there psychiatry consulted by GlobeLiveMedia. Even people who have not been infected with the coronavirus can develop symptoms

Although they may vary from person to person, symptoms include feeling sad, hopeless, or worried. Activities or experiences that previously aroused interest are not appreciated. There is more irritation or frustration easily.

In some cases, some people eat too much or too little, which can lead to weight gain or weight loss. You may also experience difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, lack of energy or fatigue, trouble concentrating, headaches or stomachaches, sexual dysfunction, or thoughts of harming yourself.

“More than 3 years have passed since the beginning of the pandemic, but today different types of sequelae are observed from a phenomenon that can be considered a social stressor comparable to a war”, he said. -he declares. GlobeLiveMedia Marcelo Cetkovich, psychiatrist and medical director of Ineco in Argentina.

According to the expert, “different studies have verified in Argentina and other countries the increase in the number of people with symptoms of depression in the first years. It continues to have its impact today. There are patients who have not responded well to treatment. Others were unable to maintain their membership. There are also people who have symptoms and who do not consult. Others have difficulty accessing care because they are given appointments in two months”.

Factors that influenced the increase in symptoms of depression range from fear of the coronavirus, work issues, physical aftereffects of having had the infection, encompassed as prolonged COVID, among others. “There is also a genetic factor that may further predispose a person to developing symptoms of depression,” Cetkovich said.

He also pointed out that there are people who “today feel like they are waking up from a nightmare. It is because they are realizing all that they have been through. In many families , a loved one has been lost and there have been changes in daily activities,” he said.

One of the common problems people with symptoms of depression have is that family members, friends, or at work don’t believe what they are feeling. Without the validation of others, everything becomes more difficult, especially to get help and access rapid treatment based on scientific evidence.

Martín Etchevers, Doctor of Psychology, Professor of Psychotherapies and Emergencies and Research Secretary at the Faculty of Psychology of the University of Buenos Aires, explained that “depression can produce -on the one hand- a subjective discomfort. However, it can cause malfunctions. This means that people may feel like they are worthless, they are guilty of not feeling energy or for other reasons, or they feel no hope for the future, among other things. elements of subjective discomfort. But they may also find it difficult to perform usual activities and roles, such as household chores or maintaining connections with loved ones.

Not all people simultaneously experience subjective discomfort with dysfunction. “There are people who have symptoms of depression, but continue to live as if nothing has happened or continue to function. It sometimes makes others think that they are feeling bad. When a person experiences a subjective discomfort or also suffers from a dysfunction, she needs to see a mental health professional, and her environment needs to validate her feelings, even if they don’t share them,” Etchevers emphasized.

“Depression is a disease recognized by the World Health Organization and associations of mental health professionals. Do not believe that the person is lazy or disinterested in doing things. It is a disease that has the same status as a heart attack,” he said.

Beyond the stigma and denial that still surrounds depression, in the context of a very prosperous world that promotes the message that you have to feel good all the time, today a treatment is possible.

“There’s a lot of voluntarism and offers of therapies without scientific evidence,” Cetkovich warned. What may work are psychotherapies, especially cognitive psychotherapy, and treatment with psychotropic drugs in severe cases. They can be used in combination – depending on each particular case – and can increase good response levels in affected people.

In some cases, it is possible that some people will be affected by the situation of complicated grief following the loss of a loved one during the pandemic. “Sometimes the symptoms of complicated grief are mistaken for depression. This image may be due to the loss of a loved one or to unmet expectations, such as a work project, a move, among others. For this reason, it is necessary to consult the professional, who will indicate a treatment, ”estimated Etchevers.

Friends, family, neighbors and co-workers should support the person affected by the symptoms of depression. “They should consider that those affected tend to isolate themselves or are more pessimistic. Therefore, it is necessary to have tolerance and provide them with social support. This is not a situation that can be resolved overnight. So, it requires a lot of support from others”, specifies the doctor of psychology.

Another recommendation is that healthy activities can be encouraged. Physical activity, healthy eating (reducing processed and ultra-processed foods is key), and practicing meditation can help alleviate symptoms of depression. Although it can also happen that the person does not feel like exercising or meditating.

“Physical activity and meditation have been shown to help people with symptoms of depression,” Cetkovich said. It is also recommended that the population practice them as tools for the prevention of physical and mental health problems”.

Last November, an article published in the magazine The Lancet and carried out in Spain showed that participation in low-intensity activities, such as walking or DIY, was associated with a lower risk of depression compared to those who did not.

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