Study on the impact of Covid-19 on physical, mental health is underway

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The University of Greenwich is conducting a worldwide study on the impact of Covid-19 on a person's physical and mental health.

The online survey has attracted over 50 thousand people. Their answers to the questionnaire will help researchers assess the impact of the coronavirus over an 18-month period.

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The survey examines how people have been feeling over the past two weeks and how they felt within the two weeks before the coronavirus pandemic.

Dr Trevor Thompson from the University of Greenwich will help assess the data from UK. Ten scientists at seven universities including Greenwich, King's College London, and Oxford are gathering information.

He said: "The immediate aim is to see who has been affected most by the virus, in terms of wellbeing and to identify ways in which the UK population may have been uniquely affected.

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"The long-term aim is to look at the most vulnerable to see how they can be helped in future pandemics. This is a chance for us all to contribute to something which affects the whole planet."

The study, entitled "Collaborative Outcomes study on Health and Functioning during Infection Times (COH-FIT)," will happen in over 100 countries that were hit by Covid-19. It could be considered as one of the biggest such studies ever.

The survey, endorsed by World Psychiatric Association, aims to detect risk and protective factors for physical and mental health problems. It also hopes to lay out strategies for addressing these problems.

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CDC's take

The impact of coronavirus outbreak on mental health is inevitable. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) acknowledges the stress that the coronavirus outbreak brings.

“Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Coping with stress will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger,” the CDC states on its website.

Stress comes in many forms during an infectious disease outbreak, according to the health institute. Stress may manifest in fear and worry about one’s own health and the health of loved ones.

People may have difficulty sleeping during coronavirus lockdown. They can experience changes in eating patterns. CDC also warns about worsening of chronic health problems and mental health conditions. Moreover, increased use of alcohol or drugs is possible.

Different responses to the outbreak

The impact of coronavirus on one’s mental health depends on many factors. The CDC stresses that people have different ways of responding to the coronavirus outbreak. It depends on one’s background and the community they live in.

According to CDC, individuals who may respond more strongly to the stress brought by the spread of the COVID-19 virus are:

  • “Older people and people with chronic diseases who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19
  • Children and teens
  • People who are helping with the response to COVID-19, like doctors, other health care providers, and first responders
  • People who have mental health conditions including problems with substance use”

Moreover, CDC encourages people who are staying at home to take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories. This includes browsing social media because hearing about the pandemic can make one upset.