Mental health awareness in COVID-19 era

The current situation with increased COVID-19 cases in Victoria is unfortunate. However, there is a bigger picture for the community to appreciate and act on. According to Professor Michael Kyrios, Vice President & Executive Dean, College of Education, Psychology & Social Work, and Director, Órama Institute of Mental Health and Wellbeing, “beyond the spread of the virus, we need to consider ongoing likely impacts on mental health.”

Recent research by the Órama Institute in partnership with the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute’s Wellbeing and Resilience Centre found a substantial increase in adverse mental health outcomes since the COVID crisis. Up to 80% of almost 700 participants from across the Australian community showed psychological distress or low levels of wellbeing during COVID, up from around half pre-COVID, placing affected people at risk for future ongoing mental health problems.

Public surveys have also revealed that concerns about the effects of social isolation and distancing on mental health and wellbeing rank higher than those about COVID-19 itself.

“Victoria needs to be bracing itself for the coming mental health crisis associated with COVID,” says Professor Kyrios. ‘This will likely place the mental health care system in a precarious situation with very limited ability to mobilise resources in response to the increased incidence of mental illness arising from the COVID crisis. This, in turn, will leave the system unable to support those in greatest need.

“There are ways of minimising the burden on the mental health system and helping people manage the psychological impacts of isolation.” For instance, the SAHMRI/Órama group has developed an online package of strategies that led to significant improvements in life satisfaction, emotional, social, and psychological wellbeing, depressive symptoms, and stress during the previous COVID wave.

For further information about some of the strategies that the community can use to cope with isolation and manage the challenges of coming out of lockdown, visit the Órama Institute’s website and read the Be Well Plan.

 

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