Coronavirus Lockdown Takes A Toll On Mental Health
DocsApp has seen an overall increase of 64% in consultations related to mental health, since the pandemic
The data of online consultations on DocsApp, the 24/7 digital healthcare platform, indicates that the number of individuals reaching out for professional help on issues related to mental health has seen a significant rise post-COVID-19. The digital healthcare platform has witnessed an overall increase in consultations regarding mental health by about64%. What is even more interesting is that about 61% of those seeking counselling are the youngsters – those in the age bracket of 21-30 years.
While it is understandable that the COVID-19 pandemic has created uncertainty and tension on multiple fronts, what is surprising is that such a large portion of the society is finding it challenging to cope at a mental level. Social distancing has compelled people to spend almost all their time alone or with family without physical access to a broader section of society. This might bring many previously hidden issues to the forefront such as relationship challenges, heightened sense of anxiety, anger towards public behaviour, fear and worry about health, job, and finance.
According to NIMH while mental illnesses affect both men and women, the prevalence of mental illnesses in men is often lower than women.
Mr Satish Kannan, Founder & CEO, DocsApp
However, theescalating global health crisis has changed that equation - men have reached out to address mental health issues about 2.5 times more than women. Queries pertaining to issues like anxiety and stress have seen a 23% increase whereas, those related to relationship management have witnessed a rise of over 19%.
Sharing his experience, Akshay from Mumbai (name changed) said, “I was constantly worried about whether or not will I be able to work during isolation, and what if I lose my income and there was nothing much I could do. I have been using DocsApp for quite some time & decided to take a consultation. I was connected to Dr Gayathri Rao. The doctor was so helpful, I spoke to the doctor, she listened to me completely and understood my concern, counselled me to overcome my anxiety. I am really happy with the counselling and the constant support from the doctor made me feel safer”.
“We have seen a significant increase in the number of individuals seeking consultations on our platform for issues like anxiety, panic, relationship management, etc. With DocsApp, we are trying our best to address all kinds of health problems, including issues related to mental health, so as to continue being a holistic healthcare platform of choice for our users” said Mr Satish Kannan, Founder & CEO, DocsApp.
Experts are of the opinion that, in a scenario such as this, people are not just concerned about their physical health but are also sensitive to their mental wellbeing. Amidst the lockdown, individuals have developed a wide range of symptoms of psychological stress and disorder, including low mood, insomnia, stress, anxiety, anger, irritability, emotional exhaustion and depression. Remember, it’s okay to not be okay- however, don’t hesitate to seek help. Talking helps, be it a stranger, family, friends or a counsellor. The most important thing is to stop multiplying your fear and take it one day at a time.