COVID-19 impact on mental health - statistics & facts
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted people around the world in many different ways. As of May 2, 2023, there had been over 687 million COVID-19 cases worldwide and almost 6.87 million deaths caused by the disease. In addition, the pandemic has had a serious impact on the global economy and personal finances, and lockdowns and restrictions put in place to slow the spread of the disease have severely disrupted the lives of billions of people. All of this, the novelness and unpredictability of the pandemic, the loss of life, financial insecurity, and lockdowns, have contributed to one of the largest consequences of the pandemic: an increase in emotional and psychological challenges. Millions of people have suffered feelings of worry, stress, loneliness, anxiety, and depression because of the pandemic, with one survey finding that citizens from France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Canada, the United States, and Japan were more likely to report the pandemic has affected their psychological health than their personal economic situation, physical health, or professional ambitions. In addition, at times, the pandemic has resulted in limited access to mental health services resulting in many of those suffering from such issues with no easy access to help.
Although vaccines have lessened the impact of COVID-19 and many countries no longer have strict measures against the disease, many people still feel the mental health effects of the pandemic. The experience, especially in the first year of the pandemic, has been a traumatic event for many, that has forever changed lives. The short term and long-term effect the pandemic has had on mental health should not be underestimated. Perhaps one positive outcome of the pandemic however, has been a global focus and more public discourse on mental health. Yet, only time will tell how the pandemic will ultimately impact how mental health is discussed, addressed, and treated in different regions around the world.
Although vaccines have lessened the impact of COVID-19 and many countries no longer have strict measures against the disease, many people still feel the mental health effects of the pandemic. The experience, especially in the first year of the pandemic, has been a traumatic event for many, that has forever changed lives. The short term and long-term effect the pandemic has had on mental health should not be underestimated. Perhaps one positive outcome of the pandemic however, has been a global focus and more public discourse on mental health. Yet, only time will tell how the pandemic will ultimately impact how mental health is discussed, addressed, and treated in different regions around the world.
