Rise In India’s Mental Health Crisis With Ascending Coronavirus Cases
What resulted in the spike in India’s mental health crisis? India has been in the news recently for the alarming rise in cases of infection caused by the Nipah virus, also known as the Nipah or NiV virus. The virus is transmitted to humans from animals, specifically fruit bats, and causes encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain which can be deadly if not treated quickly enough. What started out as an isolated outbreak in the western state of Kerala has grown into a crisis of national proportions, with confirmed cases reaching 18 in number (as of June 19th) and at least 11 deaths reported so far due to complications related to the disease. A report from India’s National Centre for Disease Control found that over 60% of patients treated with the Coronavirus are suffering from psychiatric conditions, such as depression and anxiety. The virus, which the World Health Organization has classified as a priority 1 pathogen, has been spreading rapidly in India since 2012, affecting hundreds of thousands of people each year. Patients suffering from mental health crisis associated with the virus have also been recorded in other countries such as Thailand and Pakistan as well. What Is The Issue? The virus, known, has been fatal in about 40% of cases, according to WHO. It is closely related to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which appeared in Asia in 2003 and infected more than 8,000 people worldwide. The disease causes fever and pneumonia-like symptoms and can lead to kidney failure. There is no vaccine or specific treatment for it yet. The most recent outbreak began in Saudi Arabia last year, but since then, cases have also been reported in Jordan, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Britain. India’s health ministry said on Tuesday that a 60-year-old man had died from COVID-19 after being admitted to hospital in New Delhi on May 11. He was suffering from diabetes and chronic lung disease, officials said. A woman who was diagnosed with COVID-19 at a hospital in Mumbai died on May 12 after contracting the virus while travelling abroad, health officials said. Her case was unrelated to that of another woman who tested positive for COVID-19 after returning from Abu Dhabi earlier this month, they added. India’s Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said he was deeply concerned by India’s first two deaths from COVID-19. I am sure there will be more such cases, he told reporters in New Delhi. We are trying our best to contain it. The World Health Organization says there are strong indications that person-to-person transmission of COVID-19 takes place mainly in healthcare settings, where close contact between patients and caregivers can facilitate spread of infection. Symptoms Of Anxiety, Depression, And Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Depression and anxiety are closely linked, they aren’t exactly synonymous. Depression is a general term that describes a state of sadness or despair; people with depression often struggle to find joy in everyday life and experience feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, and worthlessness. Anxiety, on the other hand, refers to excessive worrying about everyday situations such as work deadliWhilenes or spending time with friends. Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours. People with OCD may have recurring, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) that cause them distress, feel compelled to perform certain rituals (compulsions), or both. Common obsessions include fear of germs, fear of harming oneself or others, fear of being contaminated by dirt or germs, and intrusive sexual thoughts. Common compulsions include washing hands repeatedly, checking to see if a door is locked several times before leaving home, counting items over and over again until it feels just right or arranging objects in perfect symmetry. It can be very difficult for someone who suffers from these conditions to carry out normal day-to-day activities because their minds are constantly preoccupied with repetitive, upsetting thoughts. And while it’s common for people to occasionally worry about something or develop fears based on experiences, those who suffer from anxiety disorders tend to worry more frequently and intensely than most others. They also don’t get much relief from their symptoms even after seeking help, which makes living with these mental health crisis & issues, particularly challenging. Most people who suffer from anxiety and depression will experience periods of remission where they don’t feel depressed or anxious at all—but there are some strategies you can use to prevent your symptoms from flaring up again in the future. Getting help An estimated one in four Indians suffer from some form of mental illness, but only a fraction (only 35%) of those receive any treatment, according to India’s National Human Rights Commission. Experts attribute such a low rate to stigma surrounding mental illness as well as an insufficient healthcare system. Although there are more than 100 psychiatric hospitals across India, most are understaffed and ill-equipped to deal with patients; many facilities lack even basic medical supplies like gloves and soap. The government has pledged $4 billion for mental health services over five years, but experts say that figure is not nearly enough to address what is now being called a public mental health crisis. Still, many hopes that increased awareness will help destigmatize mental illness and encourage people who need help to seek it out sooner rather than later. People suffering from depression can recover if they have timely access to appropriate care, said Dr. Vikram Patel, a professor at Harvard Medical School and co-founder of Sangath, a non-profit organization working on improving mental health care in India. Mental disorders do not discriminate based on race or social status. They affect rich and poor alike, men and women, children and adults. But despite how common these illnesses are around the world, too many people still don’t get help because of their misconceptions about mental health problems—or they don’t know where to turn for support. That’s why we launched Together We Will—our global campaign aimed at raising awareness about mental health crisis around the world through educational initiatives, community programs
