COVID-19: Promoting Our Mental Well-being

As the cases of COVID-19 infection rises in Nigeria and around the world, it is imperative that we put our mental health into consideration. According to a popular saying in the field of mental health, “mental health is total health”, sound mental health gives us the opportunity to take care of the other aspects of our health e.g. physical health, social health, etc. The current situation can lead to the breakdown of our mental health if not properly handled, leading to issues like fear, anxiety disorders, depression, etc.

According to the World Health Organisation, mental health is a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community. Any deviation from these attributes shows the other side of the health continuum – mental illness.

Pandemics like COVID-19 can cause a behavioural change e.g. fear and anxiety-related, among other impacts like momentous and extensive increase in morbidity and mortality rate, economic and political instability and damages. As the National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) led by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is conducting risk assessment on daily basis to help guide decision making in this pandemic situation, emergency psychological crisis intervention should also be implemented to reduce the negative psychological impact on public mental health.

As reported during SARS and Ebola virus disease outbreaks in 2003 and 2014 respectively, there was generalized fear and over-reactive behaviours induced by fear were common among the public, which can slow down infection control. High risk individuals, including healthcare workers can develop depression, anxiety disorders, like post-traumatic stress disorders, and other forms of psychological imbalances. In the response to COVID-19 outbreak, psychological crisis intervention should be part of the public health response and the public is expected to ensure experts in public health guide our responses in such as a way as to protect our overall wellbeing.

At this moment, the spread of false information and rumours which can lead to panic and other forms of anxiety should be avoided.  Information should be verified before dissemination as this can go a long way in preventing misinformation and unnecessary agitation which can be harmful to self and others. Let’s protect ourselves and our families by adhering to every precautionary measure as advised. This is not the time to dare the situation. We should act wisely.

Government at all levels should also address public mental health needs through development and implementation of well-coordinated strategic plans to meet these needs. Barriers to accessing quality care for our mental health should be removed. International collaborations should also be designed and implemented by enlisting support and guidance from global mental health care authorities and research communities.

Daniel D. Faleti

A mental health nurse

© Daily Independent