The Coronavirus Pandemic has affected the world in an enumerable amount of ways, one of the most widespread of these impacts is something many are not discussing though: mental health. Photo Credit: Eielson Air Force Base/PicsArt, Used With Permission (celcast6)
The Coronavirus Pandemic has affected the world in an enumerable amount of ways, one of the most widespread of these impacts is something many are not discussing though: mental health. Photo Credit: Eielson Air Force Base/PicsArt, Used With Permission

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COVID-19’s Impact on Mental Health

Ella Castellano, Senior Staff Writer

April 24, 2020

The Coronavirus pandemic has been affecting people in a wide variety of ways, from jobs loss to illness. One impact that is for certain is the effect that it has caused on mental health, specifically for people with mental illness. Many people suffer from anxiety surrounding the fear of contracting the disease or the constant wonder and concern about when this period of our lives when everything has been put on hold will be over. Additionally, during what feels like a never-ending quarantine, the increased loneliness and isolation can worsen and trigger some symptoms. 

“Especially being a senior it’s easy to get upset, angry, and disappointed that after 12 years of schooling, we got robbed of the best and last three months, but we are all trying to remember that staying positive and safe is how we are going to move on from all of this,” said senior Ava Accardi. 

According to a survey published by The Washington Post, nearly half the people in the United States feel as though the Coronavirus is harming their mental health. With each day filled with uncertainty passes, mental health services are becoming increasingly vital. Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, a nonprofit organization, crisis counselors fielded more than 1,800 calls related to COVID-19 in March, versus just 20 in February. 

“Being isolated from your friends and classmates is definitely really hard and lonely. Just to add to that, I’m an only child so I have no siblings to entertain me or anything which really makes this whole isolation much harder,” said senior Peyton Finn. 

The top mental health concerns include anxiety, obsessions, loneliness, depression, and traumatic stress. One in five COVID-19 related calls included suicidal desire. Something important to remember when attempting to take care of your mental health during this time period is to be mindful of your news consumption. The news can be helpful by encouraging precautions and prevention, but compulsively and obsessively reading and watching about the outbreak can be detrimental to mental health.

“This is a scary time of our lives filled with so much uncertainty about when this will end or who we know could get it next. It has created a really uneasy feeling for me personally seeing all the hysteria on social media and the news,” said junior Cece Williams.

One of the most essential things during this time is to make health your priority. The critical self-care activities are sleep, physical exercise and a healthy diet. Maintaining a sense of normality and routine can also reduce stress. It is also important to find activities that distract you from current events. Being alone with your thoughts is a very triggering thing for many people, so the best way you can help yourself is to find things you enjoy doing that makes this time a little easier. 

Although it is a sad, disappointing, and tough way to end the year, especially for my fellow senior sisters, it is important to remember you are not alone through this or any other challenges you experience in your life. I know this feels never ending, but it is important to keep in mind that everything has a start, a middle, and a finish. Things will go back to normal eventually. We are all in this together, we will get through it together, and ultimately we will become stronger people for it. 

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