The coronavirus outbreak has jeopardised the mental health of millions, amidst a massive surge in COVID cases across the country.
Apart from the physical toll of the pandemic, the mental health of people across the globe also took a hit.
People are worried about the emotional impact that the loss of loved ones would have on themselves and on their friends and families. For many, it is becoming increasingly difficult to cope with the grief and isolation.
Living in complete isolation in the middle of lockdowns across states and cities has added to a dip in mental well being, fueling anxiety and depression.
Indiatimes spoke to Dr Swati Mukherjee, a psychiatrist, about the invisible mental health crisis and how to deal with it.
"The raging pandemic has resulted in panic amongst most of us. The second wave appears to be more fatal, affecting a diverse range of population. People are going through a lot of anxiety, worry and stress," she says.
She adds that not only people should be taking care of their physical but also mental health.
Here are some tips shared by Dr Mukherjee to take care of your mental health:
"If we work towards looking at the brightside and stabilising our mental health, we will be in a better state to not hit the panic button, if anyone around us is diagnosed with COVID. Instead, we will be in a position to give strength and assurance to that patient," she tells.
Speaking about psychological trauma for a recovered COVID patient, Dr Mukherjee says it is something very similar to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). At such a time, the patient needs emotional support, a cognitive behaviour therapy, and sometimes psychiatric medicines to help the patient come out of that state of emotional distress.?