Long Term Effects of COVID-19: Mental Health

TAYLOR JORDAN – Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, people have been focusing on the immediate implications of COVID-19 such as hospital overflows and shutdowns. However, as we are coming up on the two-year anniversary of the pandemic in the United States, it is time to address some of the long term effects that have been discovered. One of the major long-term implications of the COVID-19 pandemic is its part in the national decline of mental health.

The issue of mental health is difficult when associated with a virus as it has both physiological and situational causes. Although the physiological effects of COVID-19 on mental health are being investigated, the situational causes have become clear, widespread and significant. According to a report from the CDC, in 2019 an estimated 21 percent of Americans had some form of mental health disorder. By February 2021, that number reached 38 percent–a staggering 16 percent increase in only two years.

While this number seems high, it is also concerning to note the effects of the pandemic have not been equally spread throughout the population. According to an article published by the National Institute of Health in 2020, the patterns of unequal distribution were already starting to emerge at the beginning of the pandemic. One of the most notable differences was young people were significantly more likely to have new or worsening mental health issues during the pandemic. An article published later, in 2021, showed an association between school closures and adverse mental health effects as well, especially in older children.

With this staggering increase in mental health diagnoses, especially in children and young adults, one would think the number of mental health professionals would increase to match the need for help. This is not the case. Not only did children and young adults, both at the high school and college levels, lose the mental health services provided by schools, there are also decreased options for private mental health services. Dr. Vera Feuer, a psychiatrist and associate vice president of school mental health at Cohen’s Children’s Medical Center in Long Island, has been investigating these issues. Feuer claimed via NPR, “Everybody’s booked or not taking new patients or really scheduling very far in advance. But in many cases, not even scheduling, just saying ‘right now, we can’t take anybody new,’ because they are so full.”. This quote was given in January 2022, meaning the effects of mental health due to COVID-19 have not slowed with the pandemic.

Although the mental effects are not ideal, according to the CDC, there are some ways to combat symptoms including “taking breaks from…news, taking care of your body, taking time to unwind, connecting with others…” and “connecting with community or faith based organizations”. They also recommend contacting emergency services in times of immediate crisis.

Copy Editor: Elizabeth Conner

Photography Source: https://www.inc.com/amy-morin/only-17-percent-of-adults-function-at-optimal-mental-health-yet-no-one-wants-to-talk-about-it.html