4,854 people sought counselling in HP during pandemic

People are also worried about how will they get their medications during the curfew. Those in hospital isolation are vulnerable to experiencing psychiatric symptoms NIPUN JINDAL, director

With the lockdown in place to the contain the virus spread, people infected with Covid-19 who are under home isolation are suffering from the anxiety, said National Rural Health Mission director Nipun Jindal.

Majority of the patients suffer from anxiety, worries, nonspecific psychological distress, depression, stress symptoms including PTSD, insomnia, hallucinations, paranoia and suicidal ideation, he added.

“People are also worried about how will they get their medications during the curfew. Patients in isolation also have symptoms of anxiety and had been contacting us. Those in hospital isolation are highly vulnerable to experiencing psychiatric symptoms, which may be either due to direct effects of the illness, reactionary or sometimes side effects of the medications like steroids or other drugs,” Jindal said.

So far, 4,854 people have reached out to doctors and counsellors through different helplines set up by the government . Out of them, 2,337 patients have been counselled since January this year.

Anxiety, anger, depression, fear of contracting infection and frustration due to inability to meet people and go out

NRHM

freely are the common emotions with most of the people. Some people, who are vulnerable or have pre-existing mental health issues, have clinically significant depression and anxiety or even may develop suicidal ideation,” said Dr Dinesh Dutt Sharma, head of psychiatry department, IGMC.

The pandemic has brought multiple challenges in addition to the disease and during this period, renewed emphasis is required on the mental health issues of Covid patients during their illness, Jindal added.

He said health helpline 104 was providing counselling services related to mental health and de-addiction.