The second curve on top of the second wave of Covid already underway spells catastrophe for mental health.
The devastating loss of life from the first wave of Covid-19 has traumatized many survivors, resulting in an increase in anxiety, depression, and, in some cases, using and abusing substances to help manage the fear brought on by this aggressive disease. In the wake of Covid’s first wave, the number of people suffering from mental health issues is increasing, a situation being recognized by the healthcare industry as the “second curve.” If not mitigated, this mental health second curve will result in many more lives lost to the pandemic that won’t appear on an official tally.
Americans appear to be especially hard hit by mental health issues during this pandemic. The Commonwealth Fund reports 33% of adults are having difficulty handling stress, anxiety, or sadness amid the social isolation demanded by the pandemic. Complications from the second curve collide with a first for synergistic and dire consequences to mental health.
For instance, consider a condition known as prolonged grief disorder, which can manifest when one suffers extended emotional pain of at least six months due to bereavement. Involving extreme emotional distress, loneliness, anger, guilt, hopelessness and sadness, prolonged grief disorder affects about 10% of individuals suffering from the loss of a loved one. This condition can lead to a heightened risk of suicide and substance abuse issues.
Since the pandemic began, there have been approximately 1 million deaths worldwide. This emotionally and mentally affects family and friends of the deceased and magnifies the number of people affected by the disease, none of which may be more vulnerable than those dealing with preexisting mental health and substance abuse disorders, a population that is at an even greater risk of having prolonged grief disorder affect them.
Add to the mix that mental trauma will persist long into any post-pandemic recovery. For instance, previous studies on pandemics, such as the SARS virus from the early 2000s, show that mental trauma can extend as long as three years after the threat of the disease ends, with higher rates for health care professionals. The compounding cycle of wave effects and long-tail consequences are hard to quantify.
The Covid mental health crisis curve stands to cataclysmically increase the number of deaths associated with the pandemic. Counteracting this second curve requires a vigilant and concentrated effort to identify those at risk, implement an early intervention, and follow-through extensively in the compounding complexity of this mental health crisis.
The solution to becoming proactive about mental health includes a safe connection with others through both personal network and professional opportunities. Of course, creative outlets for interaction are required, such as physically distanced outdoor gatherings and phone calls. And technology will help pave the way casually through zoom-like gatherings and clinically in the booming telehealth industry.
