Covid patients suffered from psychosocial issues: Study

INDIVIDUALS IN THE AGE GROUP OF 21 TO 40 YEARS REPORTED HIGHER SUSCEPTIBILITY TO EMOTIONAL STRESS: REPORT

NEW DELHI: People diagnosed with Covid-19 suffered from a range of psychosocial problems, a study conducted by the National Disaster Management Authority in collaboration with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences has found. Apart from health problems, there were also financial concerns and stigma that induced emotional reactions like stress, loneliness, boredom, anxiety, fear, sadness and hopelessness, the study has found.

The study titled ‘Psychosocial Support for Individuals Diagnosed with Covid-19: Experiences of Volunteer Counsellors from India’ and published recently on the NDMA website was based on the experiences of volunteer tele-counsellors of NDMA’S Covid helpline that was started in April last year and has 120 counsellors — trained mental health professionals like clinithe cal psychologists, counsellors and psychiatrists — who have counselled 1.5 lakh people. The researchers obtained data from about 500 call feedback forms of 20 counsellors who attended over 7,100 calls between April and September last year.

Psychosocial concerns were aired in 657 calls, and the counsellors said the callers often complained about ill-treatment by neighbours, authorities not providing them basic facilities, discrimination in society due to the pasting of Covid notices outside their homes, inflated hospital bills without proper facilities, loss of savings and jobs, etc.

report reveals that 95.12% of those who reported experiencing stigma blamed it on neighbours and people around them.

A staggering 548 individuals out of 657 (83.4%) shared different emotional responses that included anxiety, fear, stress, helplessness, depression, irritation, frustration, hopelessness, loneliness, feelings of disempowerment and boredom.

The report says another major source of distress to individuals was financial loss. About 87% of the respondents in this study reported having lost their source of livelihood during the pandemic, which was a major stressor. As many as 94 individuals reported sleep and appetiterelated concerns. Unsatisfactory medical facilities and disappointment with authorities was also a source of stress for 24.65%. The report said that individuals in the age group of 21 to 40 years reported higher susceptibility to emotional stress.