One of the consequences that has been referred to the most in the framework of the covid-19 pandemic, which hit the world more than two years ago, is the deterioration in mental health, product of the anguish generated by the arrival of the virus, as well as the impossibility of mourning and confinement.
From the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, emphasis has been placed on the need to monitor, verify and work for the mental health of Colombians after these two years of health emergency, in which the demand for emotional care increased and much more visibility to these problems.
Studies have even claimed that covid-19 restriction measures are associated with slightly worse mental health and lower life evaluations.such as two investigations that reviewed data from 15 countries between April 2020 and June 2021, published in the journal ‘The Lancet Public Health’.
Likewise, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), office of the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO), recently launched a high-ranking commission to help countries address mental health problems in the region, aggravated by the covid-19 pandemic.
“Faced with the current mental health crisis, the Pan American Health Organization has established a High-Level Commission on mental health and covid-19 to provide crucial and urgent guidance to its member states,” the PAHO director said at the time. Carissa Étienne.
The group, chaired by Epsy Campbell Barr, outgoing vice president of Costa Rica, and co-chaired by Néstor Méndez, deputy secretary general of the Organization of American States (OAS), must prepare a report with key recommendations to improve mental health in the Americas. , which is expected to be completed in the last quarter of 2022.
The Minister of Health, Fernando Ruiz Gómez, has referred in the past to the mental health effects left by the pandemicand the importance of addressing them to improve people’s health conditions in this regard.
“Here there have been important effects that need to be worked on, especially the issue of mourning. In Colombia, 140,000 people have died since the pandemic began, likewise personal relationships were affected through coexistence, cases of domestic violence, especially in children, labor changes that implied social distancing and the breakdown of everyday life in general that was generated due to the pandemic ”, detailed the head of the portfolio at the time.
Likewise, Ruiz Gómez has indicated that issues related to anxiety and depression have been increasing versus suicide, and pointed out that The Ministry of Health is working with the Colombian Family Welfare Institute (ICBF) and the Ministry of Education on a relevant project to reveal and support the prevention of mental health problems in the young population.
Given this scenario, this Thursday, May 26, the health portfolio published through its Twitter account a series of recommendations to maintain emotional well-being.
“The covid-19 pandemic has imposed conditions that represent a great demand for mental health. For this reason, keep these recommendations in mind to maintain your emotional well-being”, was the invitation message from the institution, who accompanied the trill with the numerals “#Hablemos” and “#PrevenirEsPreguntar”.
These are the recommendations of the ministry:
Comment on emotions. When you feel sadness, anxiety, fear or feelings that make you feel bad, ask for support from health professionals (through the EPS), family members or other people you trust.
exercise or other activities such as walking, dancing, listening to music, playing an instrument, crafts, etc.
Healthy eatingavoiding the consumption of alcohol, tobacco and psychoactive substances.
Learn to control your breath. Take three slow, deep breaths (counting to three as you take the breath in and then release it), and then breathe effortlessly but consciously.
Learn about situations of concern through reliable and official sources, so that decisions can be made with a more complete picture.