WHERE: The coronavirus pandemic caused anxiety and depression: 25% increase in cases

The World Health Organization has warned about the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on mental health, citing incidents of anxiety and depression.

The WHO spoke of a rapid increase in anxiety and depression related to Covid-19, which are largely caused by social isolation. Young people and women are said to be the most vulnerable sectors of the population.

According to the WHO, in the first year of the pandemic, the incidence of anxiety and depression increased by 25% worldwide. 90% of countries surveyed included mental health and psychosocial support in their coronavirus treatment plans, but concerns remain.

The stress caused by social isolation due to the pandemic, underlines the World Health Organization, is unprecedented. Limit people’s ability to work, seek help from loved ones, and engage in their usual activities. At the same time, in many cases exhaustion led health workers to suicidal thoughts.

“The information we have today about the impact of Covid-19 on the world’s mental health is just the tip of the iceberg,” said WHO Director-General Tentros Adam Gebregesous. He added: “This is a wake-up call for all countries to pay more attention to mental health and do more to provide psychological support to their people.”

WHERE: Women’s mental health has been much more affected

According to the WHO, young people, whose mental health has been significantly affected by the pandemic, are at disproportionately high risk of developing suicidal tendencies or attempting to harm themselves. Women are much more affected than men, and people with underlying illnesses (eg cancer, heart disease, asthma) are more likely to develop mental disorders when infected with the coronavirus.

The latest WHO Mental Health Atlas shows that by 2020, governments around the world spent an average of around 2% of their budget on mental health, while the poorest countries reported having less than one mental health professional for every 100,000 people.

Covid-19 has revealed “historically low investment” in mental health services. “Countries must act urgently to ensure support for those who need it,” said Deborah Kestel, director of the WHO Department of Mental Health and Addiction.

source: iefi merida