Epidemic of COVID-19 in China and associated Psychological Problems

Abstract

The world is experiencing pandemic of the COVID-19 now, a RNA virus that spread out from Wuhan, China. Two countries, China first and later Italy, have gone to full lock down due to rapid spread of this virus. Till to date, no epidemiological data on mental health problems due to outbreak of the COVID-19 and mass isolation were not available. To meet this need, the present study was undertaken to assess the mental health status of Chinese people. An online survey was conducted on a sample of 1074 Chinese people, majority of whom from Hubei province. Lack of adequate opportunities to conduct face to face interview, anxiety, depression, mental wellbeing and alcohol consumption behavior were assessed via self-reported measures. Results showed higher rate of anxiety, depression, hazardous and harmful alcohol use, and lower mental wellbeing than usual ratio. Results also revealed that young people aged 21-40 years are in more vulnerable position in terms of their mental health conditions and alcohol use. To address mental health crisis during this epidemic, it is high time to implement multi-faceted approach (i.e. forming multidisciplinary mental health team, providing psychiatric treatments and other mental health services, utilizing online counseling platforms, rehabilitation program, ensuring certain care for vulnerable groups, etc.). 19 cases found in China, where 64117 recovered and discharged from hospital where total death tolls reached 3177 (Worldometers, 2020, March 13). The COVID-19 is spread all across the world very rapidly (total affected cases 134769 and death 4983, Worldometers, 2020, March 13, 2020). The outbreak of COVID-19 spread over a very fast period, due to the Chinese Lunar New Year, which is the biggest temporary migration of the earth (Belluz, 2020). During this occasion under normal circumstances, around 3 billion domestic trips are made where 15 million are made only from the epicenter of COVID-19 Wuhan. In contemplation of curbing the outbreak, the Chinese government imposed the lockdown and restricted transportation. Chinese nationals confined themselves for an indefinite period as the part of the first level measure to major hazards public health emergency.

Psychological Impacts of COVID-19 among College Students in Dessie Town, Amhara Region, Ethiopia; Cross-sectional Study

“…This finding is higher than studies conducted in Hubei Province, China (37.1%) [36], and 194 cities in China (16.5%) [34]. Furthermore, our study showed that nearly three-fourth (71.8%) of students had experienced anxiety disorders during the lockdown.…”

Mental Health Impacts for International Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic in China

“…Recent studies have similarly shown that COVID-19 affects mental health outcomes such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress symptoms. [20]- [22] Anxiousness among International university students about COVID-19 may have been associated with the impact of the virus on their research [23]and future employment [24]. On the other hand, the nervousness among students can also have been brought about by the way of progressively growing distances between humans ensuing from the quarantine.…”

The Functional Impacts of the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Rapid Review

“…Quarantine restrictions signi cantly impact on community mental function, with both con nement and boredom identi ed as particularly negative aspects of this experience (42,(45)(46)(47)(48)(49)(50). Many studies (43,47,(51)(52)(53)(54)(55) found community prevalence >25% for depression, anxiety, distress and generally poor mental wellbeing during the acute pandemic phase. However, lower prevalence rates for anxiety (56) and post-traumatic stress symptoms (45) were also recorded at the height of the SARS pandemic.…”

“…A range of individual factors are also particularly associated with poorer mental function for patients, including being a young or older adult; female gender; less education, social capital and sense of control in life; employment as HCWs; using less substances, nancial stress, unemployment and experiencing stigma or discrimination (32,33,35,40,53,55,69,75,76). Identi ed mental health risk factors for community members include age, gender, trait anxiety, personal or family history of mental illness, prolonged quarantine, direct contact with coronavirus patients, and inadequate food, clothing and accommodation (40,43,48,49,52,54,77). Community members also highlighted disruptions to expectations and life aspirations as having a particularly negative impact (78).…”

“…Natural & Built Environment Geographical location was highlighted as an important variable in several studies, with people located closer to outbreaks and clusters consistently reporting worse health and wellbeing (42,44,52,57,73,74).…”