The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health

Budzyńska Julia, Leśniewska Magdalena, Kozioł Ilona, Milanowska Joanna. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health. Journal of Education, Health and Sport. 2021;11(8):44-54. eISSN 2391-8306. DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.12775/JEHS.2021.11.08.005

https://apcz.umk.pl/czasopisma/index.php/JEHS/article/view/JEHS.2021.11.08.005

https://zenodo.org/record/5177212

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© The Authors 2021;

This article is published with open access at Licensee Open Journal Systems of Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland

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Received: 29.07.2021. Revised: 30.07.2021. Accepted: 10.08.2021.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health

Julia Budzyńska¹, Magdalena Leśniewska¹, Ilona Kozioł¹, Joanna Milanowska²

1. Student Scientific Circle on Department of Applied Psychology, Medical University of Lublin
2. Department of Applied Psychology, Medical University of Lublin

Abstract

Background: The outbreak of a coronavirus pandemic in 2019 posed a serious threat to the global population. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has not only been a public health emergency, but has also affected mental health worldwide. Patients were exposed to a number of significant stressors during COVID-19 infection by which it appears that it may have had a major impact on mental health. Little is known about changes in levels of psychological affect, stress, anxiety and depression during this pandemic.

Aim of the study: The purpose of this study was to analyze the most recent available literature on the association of pandemic COVID-19 with psychiatric disorders occurring both as a result of past infection and in response to stress associated with the new situation of a global epidemic of Sars-CoV-2 virus.

Results: The psychological effects of the epidemic are clearly noticeable. The study identified groups particularly vulnerable to developing symptoms of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Risk factors were also identified in people working in health care as having direct contact with the effects of infection with the new virus.

Summary and conclusions: Key elements of preventing psychological impact are the creation of a mental health organization. Another important task for governments is to create the conditions for economic security, as financial problems or job losses can also be the cause of mental crises.

Key Words: COVID-19 pandemic; psychological disorders