DOES PANDEMIC CAUSE ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION? WHY OR WHY NOT?

The pandemic has been going on for two years, and March 2020 has wreaked havoc in the
universe. When a large number of variants were identified, the situation became even worse. The
government acted to keep the people in each country in order; they devised measures that
included education and government support, but they also recognized that physical health may
not be the only issue; mental health is also a concern. Therefore, the pandemic greatly affects the
mental health of every people in the society not just in our physical health and well-being.

As the virus spread rapidly, millions of Filipinos are worried about their mental health, thinking
of alternatives on how to survive in this world. Educational institutions worldwide promptly
responded to the pandemic by going online. Students have discussed the state of their mental
health in times of pandemic, according to a poll conducted by Penn State University's Center for
Collegiate Mental Health, students most frequently listed mental health as an aspect of their lives
that has been severely impacted by the pandemic. Even though just a third of students sought
counseling for pandemic-related concerns, this was true for all but one of the 38 demographics
studied by the researchers.

Furthermore, in a study by Dr. Ray Guarendi, Catholic Psychologist, he began to see trouble
ahead for the nation’s mental health, predicted an increase in social pathologies as a result of the
shutdown, saying, “We need to consider the unintended results … I wonder about the divorce
rate. I wonder about the suicide rate, the addiction rate.” His concerns have turned out to be well-
founded. Surveys assessing the mental-health impact of the coronavirus restrictions are showing
an increase in such “diseases of despair” as anxiety disorder and depression. From June 24-30,
40.9% of adults over the age of 18 in a Centers for Disease Control survey reported symptoms of
at least one mental or behavioral health condition — 30.9% had symptoms of anxiety or
depression related to the pandemic, 26.3% had trauma and stress symptoms, 13.3% had started or
increased substance use to cope, and 10.7% had seriously considered suicide in the previous 30
days.

Since the discovery of new variants, the situation has gotten worse, and families in our country
have been experiencing scarcity for the past two years. Because of the pandemic, several people
are dissatisfied with the results of their labor. Parents, including guardians, are overthinking how
to spend their budget in an adequate and productive manner, given the Philippines' income
system. Students are unable to concentrate in class and have lost their ability to interact due to
social anxiety. Losing loved ones because of COVID affect every family losing their way to find
hope on surviving this pandemic.
In conclusion, the pandemic has had a significant impact on people's way of life. The social
challenges that this world has faced during the pandemic include the loss of loved ones, food
consumption, and loss of employment. Depression can lead to student suicide if not handled
early on, as a result of the fact that they put out effort in their work yet still receive poor grades,
as well as the internet instability that everyone is experiencing, causing them to submit work late.
Because of the social difficulties we're experiencing, emotional breakdown is more common
these days. That is why mental health awareness should be raised in the midst of pandemic.
Every people have its own silent battle, the only way to protect our mental health is to have a
peace of mind and let everyone breath and relax. “Anything that’s human is mentionable, and
anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they
become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary.” – Fred Rogers