Doctors warn of COVID implications for mental health

The number of COVID infections may have come down in some Indian states, but doctors across government-run health institutions see a spike in patients complaining of mental health issues triggered by the virus, Report informs referring to The Hindu.

Among the mental health problems are depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and trauma caused by a near-death experience, Basudeb Das, director of Indian Central Institute of Psychiatry, said.

"While we are trying to contain the novel coronavirus, we have to be prepared to deal with a new pandemic caused by the COVID-19 impact on mental health," he said.

According to him, handling such mental health cases may continue for the next few years even after vaccination is completed.

Das, who recently took over as the director of the institute at Kanker in Ranchi, said that not only there is a rise in such cases but two in every ten patients visiting the health facility have mental health issues triggered by COVID-19.

"We have to think both in terms of short-term and long-term solutions,’ he said, adding that it would be crucial to train doctors and associated staff to face the new challenge," he said.

India ranks second globally in terms of the number of COVID cases. According to the latest data from the Ministry of Health, 10.9 million cases have been registered in the country. At the same time, more than 10.6 million people have recovered, about 139,000 continue treatment, 156,000 people have died with coronavirus and associated diseases.