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mental health, pandemic” srcset=”https://cdn.elnacional.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/pixabay-hombre-696×464.jpg 696w, https://cdn.elnacional.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/pixabay-hombre-300×200.jpg 300w, https://cdn.elnacional.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/pixabay-hombre-1024×682.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.elnacional.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/pixabay-hombre-768×512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.elnacional.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/pixabay-hombre-1068×712.jpg 1068w, https://cdn.elnacional.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/pixabay-hombre-630×420.jpg 630w, https://cdn.elnacional.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/pixabay-hombre-1260×840.jpg 1260w, https://cdn.elnacional.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/pixabay-hombre.jpg 1280w” data-sizes=”(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px”/>Even before the COVID-19 outbreak, the globe grappled with a significant mental health predicament. A substantial portion of the world’s population—at least 25 percent—was projected to experience mental illness at some point in their lives, yet healthcare authorities failed to address this widespread issue with the urgency it demanded. The coronavirus pandemic only exacerbated this pre-existing crisis.
The enforced social distancing measures, coupled with widespread fear and uncertainty surrounding the virus’s health impacts, served as major catalysts for mental distress. Further contributing factors included financial hardship, the spread of misinformation, and unsettling rumors related to COVID-19.
It’s also crucial to acknowledge that exposure to conflicting, unreliable, or excessively negative information can significantly contribute to mental health challenges, including Disordered eating patterns and self-harm attempts have become alarmingly prevalent among adolescents and young adults.
The situation has also been difficult for frontline medical professionals, many of whom have experienced compassion fatigue. This secondary stress, arising from the emotional toll of empathetically engaging with patients’ suffering, overwhelms healthcare workers’ emotional reserves.
Breaking the Silence
A positive development in 2021 was the increased discussion surrounding mental well-being, leading to a reduction in stigma. Simone Biles’s public vulnerability highlighted the impact of life’s challenges on even the most successful individuals. The passing of actress Verónica Forqué prompted frank conversations about suicide and early detection strategies.
The year also witnessed a shift in attitudes toward depression, a leading mental health condition globally. There’s a growing understanding that seeking professional assistance is a sign of strength, not weakness—a proactive approach to well-being.
While the World Health Organization’s 2020 mental health targets remain unmet, the organization has extended the deadline. The new goal is to achieve universal access to high-quality mental health services by 2030. This presents a crucial opportunity to address current needs and anticipate future challenges, such as eco-anxiety—the persistent dread of environmental catastrophe—which experts foresee emerging post-pandemic.
Elena Sanz, Health and Medicine, The Conversation
