COVID and Mental Health
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted, and continues to impact, mental health and wellbeing. Not only from the stressors associated with adjusting to a worldwide pandemic over the last few years, but also the impact that contracting the disease has had on people’s physical and post COVID mental health.
For example, research has found that COVID-19 has:
Exacerbated pre-existing mental health conditions in some individuals
Increased incidence of both depression and anxiety since 2020 worldwide
Higher risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 for people living with mental disorders
(WHO, 2022)
Psychologists are now mindful of these impacts and take them into consideration when seeing new clients. We consider how the COVID-19 pandemic may have influenced or impacted upon their current mental health concerns.
It is normal and common to experience stress, worry and grief in regards to the pandemic, but it’s important to remain vigilant to emerging symptoms in regards to a recent bout of COVID, or those that are stress related due to the pandemic.
COVID Mental Health Support
Here are some things to consider in regards to your own mental health and COVID-19:
Have you had a recent infection of COVID—19? If so, could this be causing some of your symptoms such as fatigue, restlessness, irritability, insomnia or low motivation?
Have you experienced an increase in stress due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic?
Does the onset of your mental health symptomology correlate with the onset of a COVID-19 infection?
If COVID-19 has been found to potentially have an impact on your mental wellbeing, this would need to be considered when deciding on what intervention may be helpful for you. A trip to the GP for a check-up and to rule out long COVID may also be necessary.
Coping with Pandemic Stress
If you’re struggling with stress related to the pandemic, incorporate one or more of these strategies:
Take breaks from news stories and social media
Take care of your body: focus on nutrition, exercise and be sure to be up to date with your health checks
Take time to relax and rest, and make this a priority
Connect with others. Talk to people you trust about your concerns
Reach out for professional help if you feel like you cannot cope. Some resources are listed below.
COVID-19 Resources
Lifeline COVID-19 Resources
For more information on the impact of COVID-19 on mental health in Australia follow this link.
If you’re struggling with your mental health as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, book a session with one of our experienced Perth psychologists today.
