What kind of effects could the COVID-19 pandemic have our long-term mental health?
The potential long term effect of this situation, aside from the economic hardships, is the developments of mental health problems, especially phobias. We have to make people so afraid to go outside that they would stay home, and soon we will tell them that now it's OK to go back outside and be around people. No doubt some people will find this uncomfortable and possible even develop agoraphobia.
Many people have also reported a rise in domestic abuse during the time of quarantine. I think we will be seeing the effects of the mental trauma that has been caused by being trapped in a house with an abusive person for years.
How could the COVID-19 pandemic affect underserved and vulnerable populations in our community?
People who lack access to care and basic necessities of life are at a higher risk level than the general population for higher incidence of disease and for a poorer outcome from their illness. They are also less likey to work jobs that allows them to social distance and work from home. Underpriced communities have higher infection rates and have worse outcomes after infection. I hope this will open our eyes and hearts to the plight of the poor and undeserved and cause us to renew our commitments to equality.
As a healthcare worker, what additional stressors have you been experiencing?
In addition to the increased work stress, Healthcare workers must deal with the same stress as everyone else magnified. For example, everyone fears getting the virus and potentially bringing it home to your family. Healthcare workers are often around known positive patients and many other undiagnosed patients at work every day. This fear for personal safety that everyone has is magnified and much closer to home because of the imminent risk we face in the hospital. In addition to that, many have not been able to take time off and work from home like others so they didn't get to spend time with their kids and often had to quarantine from their families who support them.
How could the COVID-19 pandemic affect healthcare workers mental health in general?
I think this virus made us all very aware of our mortality and the limits of our abilities. Facing the risk of death to do your job will bring most people to a place mentally that they would rather not go. We have to watch as patients die alone without their families by their side and often we are not even able to be with them to comfort them the way we want. So in addition to our own mortality, there is a lot of collective grief right now.
What can we do to help our friends and family that are working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic?
You may know someone that is working long hours that is not able to get basic things like they use to. For example, our local grocery store often sells out of paper goods by mid day and definitely by the time I get off in the evening. You could offer to pick up needed supplies from the grocery store, grab their dry cleaning, run some errands, or just do some babysitting for those not allowed to work from home.
What tips do you have for maintaining our own mental health during this time of isolation and uncertainty?
In this setting, like in all settings, the best way through is to learn what you can about how you are feeling. This is best done with a counselor who can help you to vocalize the feelings you are having and express them. Grief is always easier when its shared. Find someone that you can share with on a deep level and who can help you reflect on your own emotions. When you understand why you do things and feel a certain way, then you will understand why other feel the way they do. You learn how to understand others by reflecting on your own feelings.