It is suggested, based on recent medical findings, that people who contracted COVID-19 are roughly 60% more likely to be battling mental illness in the following year than those who did not contract the virus.
How can we respond to the mental health crisis of COVID survivors?
This article explains the current research and findings on the connection between COVID-19 and mental illness. It covers how the virus affects brain function, causing brain fog and memory lapses. There is a dire need for support and care for those struggling with the psychological aftermath of COVID-19.
Here are three action steps that you can take:
- Reach out to those who have had COVID. Check-in with the people around you and pay attention to how they’re doing. Are they behaving differently from before they had the virus?
- Seek out help and care if you are experiencing adverse mental health after COVID. Don’t be afraid to let others know if you’re struggling. Consider seeing a mental health professional.
- Normalize seeking help for mental illness. Sadly, more than half of those with mental illness do not seek treatment. This is due in part to the lingering stigma around struggling with mental health and asking for help. We can all support each other by normalizing getting help, and being open about our own struggles, past or present.