- There has been a massive increase in mental health disorder cases since the beginning of the pandemic.
- People with mental health disorders have a higher risk of severe Covid-19.
- The number of young people with suicidal thoughts has also increased.
According to a report released by the World Health Organization (WHO), the global prevalence of anxiety and depression has increased by a massive 25% since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The international body investigated a potential increase in mental health conditions by surveying mental health and psychosocial support in the Covid-19 response plans of countries.
The WHO took into account the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on mental health symptoms and mental disorders; the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the prevalence of suicidal thoughts and behaviours; the risk of infection, severe illness and death from Covid-19 for people living with mental disorders; and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on mental health services.
The research also looked at the effectiveness of psychological interventions adapted for the Covid-19 pandemic to prevent or reduce mental health problems and maintain access to mental health services.
Higher risk of suicidal behaviours
The research found that the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in a 27.6% increase in cases of major depressive disorder and a 25.6% increase in cases of anxiety disorders globally in 2020. Furthermore, the pandemic increased disability-adjusted life years for people with major depression and anxiety disorders.
Younger people, women and people with pre-existing health conditions were also found to be more likely to report mental health disorder symptoms.
Regarding suicide, the research states that there is no clear indication of a change in rates since the pandemic began. However, the findings show a higher risk of suicidal behaviours in young people. The report also found that loneliness and positive Covid-19 diagnosis increased suicidal thoughts, especially in healthcare workers.
The report also found that the risk of severe illness and death from Covid-19 was higher in people living with mental disorders. However, there is no evidence of people with mental disorders being more susceptible to Covid-19 infection.
The pandemic also disrupted outpatient mental healthcare services. There were inadequate infrastructure, pre-existing inequalities and low levels of technological literacy to implement e-health solutions for mental health services.
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