Posted: September 5th, 2022

The effect COVID-19 has on mental health/ patients with mental health disorders

The effect COVID-19 has on mental health/ patients with mental health disorders
The COVID-19 pandemic has, in a short period of under a year, negatively impacted the lives of many people all over the world. The most vulnerable groups of the population to be impacted has been those with underlying chronic illnesses, particularly patients with mental health disorders. In countries heavily impacted by the epidemic like China and Italy, there are raised concerns regarding the mental health of people already living with psychiatric conditions. For instance, more than 173 million people are living with various mental health disorders in China. And in a world where stigma and neglect towards people living mental conditions is still high, the COVID-19 epidemic makes such people more susceptible to infections and discrimination when highly contagious epidemics such as COVID-19 break out.
First, mental health disorders lower the body’s immunity, increasing the risk of opportunistic infections, including SARS-CoV-2. Due to behavioral factors relating to cognitive impairment, patients with mental illnesses have decreased risk awareness, preventing them from caring, and taking preventative measures. This puts them at an elevated risk of contacting COVID-19 compared to the general population. Cases of COVID-19 outbreaks have been reported in various psychiatric wards in different countries. For instance, a cluster of 50 psychiatric patients was diagnosed with COVID-19 in China on the 9th of February 2020. A Korean psychiatric ward tested 102 of 103 psychiatric patients positive for COVID-19.
The COVID-19 pandemic impact is even worse for people living with severe mental illnesses (SMI). The isolation policies also affect the health status of the SMI patients significantly, particularly for those with cognitive impairment and decreased understanding of the risk involved. The societal discrimination against people with mental health conditions also makes it difficult for them to access timely health care services once they get infected with the coronavirus.
People living with mental disorders often have regular doctor appointments. However, the new nationwide quarantine regulations have limited these outpatients’ visits. The suspension of many community health care services and disruption in the supply chain for major drugs has made it difficult for people with mental conditions to access basic health services for evaluations, therapy, or prescriptions, which may be life-saving.
So generally, COVID-19 has significantly impacted patients with mental health disorders. The high mortality rate of the COVID-19 pandemic has created a strong wave of fear, anxiety, and depression. Emotional stress is greater among people with mental health conditions, which increases the risk or relapses and the likelihood of worsening for newly diagnosed patients.

Order | Check Discount

Tags: The effect COVID-19 has on mental health/ patients with mental health disorders