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East Asian Arch Psychiatry 2022;32:3-4 | https://doi.org/10.12809/eaap2215

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Mental Health Challenges in COVID-19 Pandemic

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As of 9 March 2022, over 445 million people have been infected with COVID-19 and about 6 million people have died because of COVID-19. Although some countries have already ended strict social distancing measures in view of the gradual decline of newly confirmed cases and COVID-related deaths, the western Pacific region (including Hong Kong) is still experiencing a major surge of new cases. Despite the uncertainty in the development of the pandemic, the negative impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of the population, both the direct effect of the virus and the measures taken to control its spread, have been widely reported.

In this theme issue on COVID-19 and mental health, Kawasaki1 reported a case of folie à deux in a family in Japan during the quarantine period. It highlights that the negative impact of the pandemic on mental health often affects the family as a whole. Children and adolescents may be more vulnerable to the effects of the pandemic. Syed et al2 report the interactive impact of COVID-19 on the mental wellbeing of parents and their children in Bangladesh, highlighting again the negative impact of the pandemic on vulnerable individuals and their families. Healthcare professionals have experienced unprecedented stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. On the one hand, they have to care for patients with many uncertainties. On the other hand, they need to look after themselves and their family. Chan and Lee3 explore the mental wellbeing of occupational therapists in Hong Kong and the possible protective role of social support. Being infected with COVID-19 and undergoing treatment could be a stressful event. The mental health condition of the survivors of COVID-19, particularly those with severe symptoms requiring hospitalisation, should be of concern. Wu et al4 examine the mental health conditions of survivors of COVID-19 who have received inpatient treatment. They report that up to 20% of survivors have posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, or depressive symptoms. This highlights the mental health care needs of COVID-19 survivors.

In fact, symptoms of COVID-19 may persist even after the acute phase of the disease, which has been coined “long covid”.5 Many mental health– related symptoms of long covid, such as cognitive impairment, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and mood symptoms, may be related to the impact of the virus on the central nervous system.5 A significant proportion of survivors have reported one or more symptoms of long covid that have a major impact on their health and functioning.6 The scientific communities are trying to unravel the mechanisms of long covid. The development of mental health services and other healthcare services tailored to the needs of COVID-19 survivors is urgently needed to reduce the potential long-term public health impact. The challenge on healthcare services, in particular the mental health services, is likely to continue even with the end of the pandemic. Early preparation and planning for mental health professionals, services, and public health policies are paramount.

SKW Chan
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong

Address for correspondence: Dr Sherry KW Chan, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong. Email: kwsherry@hku.hk

References

  1. Kawasaki T. Folie à Deux during self-quarantine in the COVID-19 pandemic: a case report. East Asian Arch Psychiatry 2022;32:22-3. Crossref
  2. Syed SE, Khan NM, Ahmed HU. Emotional and behavioural changes in children and adolescents and their association with parental depression during COVID-19 pandemic: a pilot study in Bangladesh. East Asian Arch Psychiatry 2022;32:11-6. Crossref
  3. Chan MH, Lee ATC. Perceived social support and depression among occupational therapists in Hong Kong during COVID-19 pandemic. East Asian Arch Psychiatry 2022;32:17-21. Crossref
  4. Wu KK, Lee D, Sze AM, et al. Posttraumatic stress, anxiety, and depression in COVID-19 survivors. East Asian Arch Psychiatry 2022;32:5-10. Crossref
  5. Crook H, Raza S, Nowell J, Young M, Edison P. Long covid: mechanisms, risk factors, and BMJ 2021;374:n1648. Crossref
  6. Routen A, O’Mahoney L, Ayoubkhani D, et al. Understanding and tracking the impact of long COVID in the United Kingdom. Nat Med 2022;28:11-5. Crossref