Coronavirus: Wuhan's virus outbreak is easing, but its mental health disaster is just beginning
WUHAN - After the coronavirus ripped through Wuhan, killing thousands and sparking an unprecedented months-long lockdown, the central Chinese city is now cautiously navigating a path back towards normality.
Disasters like life-threatening epidemics, which can overwhelm the capacity of communities to respond, are frequently associated with lasting mental health issues. Research into the psychological impacts of Covid-19 remains at an early stage, complicating efforts to draw clear conclusions. But some initial signs suggest that large numbers of Chinese medical personnel may be dealing with epidemic-related mental health issues.
An environment characterised by constant stimulation, combined with the long hours spent undertaking onerous disease-control work, meant many medical workers were not eating or sleeping properly and felt heightened physical and mental stress, Dr Zhuo said. Ground Zero Wuhan - China battles to contain new coronavirus | Asian Insider | The Straits Times Last week, a 70-year-old man surnamed Li told Caixin that friends and family members had shunned him since his return from the hospital, where he was treated for Covid-19, perhaps out of fear that he still poses a risk to their health.
Ms Zhao Jialu, a partner in charge of the psychology team at the Shanghai-based psychology services platform KnowYourself, said a team from the company had begun providing free consultations for Covid-19 patients, medical workers, and people trapped in the centre of the outbreak. "The lack of interpersonal contact and communication can have many negative effects on people's health, family relationships, and other personal connections," Mr Zhu said.
"Even without Covid-19, I would say the shortage of mental health professionals in China is shocking. So are the numbers of people who need help and who don't even know that they can seek help," said Shanghai-based psychotherapist Shi Xiuxiong, who runs two popular podcasts on mental health."When you lay Covid-19 on top of that, it's an even more staggering situation."
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