Effects on mental health

due to COVID-19
By: Tiffany Mooy, Hannah Mcphail, Morgan Mcrobbie and
Sadie Mctaggart
 Why we chose to do the effects of mental health
due to COVID-19
We chose to speak about the effects of COVID-19 on mental health as it has such a
widespread effect. The rates at which our society as a whole is struggling is quite
astounding. There needs to be more of a focus on what we all can do to help our
fellow people. We all have been affected in someway and it is learning what we can
do to help and the information out there we can provide for those people. It is
estimated that 1 in 4 adults suffer from some form of a diagnosable mental disorder.
That is one out of the four of us in this group statistically. I hope everyone who has
participated in this assignment and read it, has taken into consideration that anyone
could be going through something. A stranger you pass on the street, a family
member, or yourself, that you display kindness and empathy.
 ➢ Unable to see family
Causes of the decline of ➢ Restrictions on travel
mental health due to the ➢ COVID and non-COVID related
deaths
COVID-19 pandemic ➢ Family upset due to close quarters
➢ Feelings of being alone
➢ Supply shortages
➢ Reduced hours at work
➢ Losing jobs
➢ Financial difficulties
➢ Confusion related to the virus
➢ Increased substance abuse due to stress
and boredom
➢ Difficult access to mental health
treatments
➢ Being sucleded at home away from
Source:https://theconversation.com/mental-health-impact-of-
coronavirus-pandemic-hits-marginalized-groups-hardest-142127 friends and family
 ➢ Understand what the protocol is if your sick
➢ Get to know where treatment is accessible and
reach out
➢ Mental reframing
Healthy ways to ➢ Take care/ control of your emotional well being
➢ Take care/ control of your physical health
cope with COVID- - Try to eat well-balanced healthy meals
- Get physical exercise

19 related mental - Create a healthy sleeping pattern

- Avoid excessive substance abuse

health issues ➢ Connect with friends and family to check in

virtually or social distanced
➢ Make time to relax
➢ Challenge your worries and anxious thoughts
➢ Keep busy
➢ Be emotionally aware
 As you can see, there is a
clear increase of people
experiencing mental health
related symptoms. This is
just a small portion of field
research that has been
completed and it does not
account for the many others
who don't have access to
care to report their Source: Nirmita Panchal, R., & 2020, A. (2020, August 21). The Implications of COVID-19

symptoms suffering in for Mental Health and Substance Use. Retrieved December 10, 2020, from
https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/issue-brief/the-implications-of-covid-19-for-
mental-health-and-substance-use/

silence.
Suicide rates and COVID-19
There hasn’t been anything compared
to the effects of the coronavirus since
1918 when the Spanish flu infected 500
million people, and killed 50 million of
those people. During 1918, the spanish
flu was related to an increase in suicide.
So, increase in suicide is shown to be
pandemic related. Perjected suicide
rates in 2020 per 100,000 people in
Canada increasted to 14.0% due to the
pandemic. The evidence clearly shows
that COVID-19 directly has affected
sucide and mental illness rates. Suicide
prevention during the time we are in
now is a difficult but, an important issue.
Source:https://academic.oup.com/qjmed/article/113/10/707/585761
2
How the decline in Jobs
due to COVID-19 has - No social interactions when not in a
workplace
affected mental health: - Lack of structure in day due to being home
- The feeling of no “purpose” when not
working
- Little to no income due to losing a job/
suffering financially
- More financial strain
- Not being able to provide for family
- Stress of finding new job quickly
- Stress of losing current job due to pandemic
Unemployment due to COVID-19
The employment rate continues to fall due to covid-19 leaving 1.62 million people unemployed. The
most recent unemployment rate, for July to September was 4.8% according to the office for National
Statistics. One of the hardest hit groups for unemployment has been young people from the ages of 16
to 24 years old. Studies have shown that 174,000 fewer teens were employed during the summer
compared to the previous months. This is also a result of adults losing their jobs and taking the part-
time summer jobs from the younger individuals. The economic contraction of 2020, is the deepest
since 1947 and is commonly being compared to the great depression. Studies have shown that
“unemployed people were more distressed; less satisfied with their lives, marriages and families; and
more likely to report psychological problems than the employed” (Journal of Vocational Behavior
, Vol. 74, No. 3, 2009).
COVID-19 impact on mental health
relating to unemployment:

The graph pictured above shows the widespread impact

on mental health due to covid-19, from February to
June 2020.
https://www.statista.com/chart/22503/share-of-adults-who-experience
d-mental-health-problems-during-the-pandemic/
The graph pictured above shows the spike in anxiety and
depression due to covid-19 compared to before the
pandemic
https://www.statista.com/chart/21878/impact-of-coronavirus-pandemic-on-mental-health
/
Overall impact on mental health due to unemployment
rates from COVID-19:
Mental health has impacted everyone during this pandemic in various ways, with job loss being one of
them. For many people this pandemic has resulted in the loss of their job. Others are having a hard
time finding a new job. Students have especially been struggling during this time if they are unable to
find work, and are looking for ways to afford tuition. There is no shortage of stress during this time.
Unemployment due to covid-19 directly relates to the rise in people struggling with mental health
issues in 2020. Careers have been affected in various ways, from losing a job, not being able to find
work, being unable to go to work due to protocols, fewer staff being allowed in the workplace, or even
getting sick yourself. Although there is money and support being offered by the government, for some
it is not enough to live comfortably and financially support a whole family. This has brought on a
significant amount of stress and feelings of failure to many individuals.
How quality of ● Individuals living in fear for their
own health
life is impacted ● Individuals living in fear for the
health of friends and family

by Covid-19 ● Violence in the home due to stress

and confinement
● Financial stress due to
unemployment and low income
● Individuals worried about future
education
● Social impact due to self isolation
What can we do to improve our quality of life during a
pandemic?
Some ways we can improve our quality of life despite Covid-19 are:

● Maintain a healthy diet

● Get exercise
● Get enough sleep
● Take time for self care
● Get help to manage stress and anxiety
● Reach out to friends and family

By taking these steps to improve your quality of life, living life during a pandemic can
become more bearable and have less of toll on your mental, physical, and emotional
health.
Surveys have shown that there has been an
increase in stress levels among households
and what individuals are becoming the
most stressed about during the pandemic by
age group. All of these factor into how our
quality of life is impacted by stress and
anxiety caused by Covid-19.
Where can you find help with improving your quality of
life during a pandemic?
With all of the restrictions in place to tackle Covid-19, finding sources and receiving help
to improve your quality of life can seem extremely difficult and out of reach. When it
comes to improving your own quality of life, you can explore many different options to
figure out what works best for you. Whether helping yourself means taking time for self
care, creating a daily routine for a sense of security during these times that we all feel lost
and developing a positive mindset or finding online support through friends, family, or
mental health professionals. Many therapists are continuing to offer virtual services so that
individuals can get the help they need in order to maintain good mental health.
The physical effects of mental health during covid-19
How does mental health affect you physically?

During the covid 19 pandemic we all know that mental health has been a huge
concern. Not only can mental health have a huge toll on our everyday lives, it can
also have a significant effect on us physically too. According to Mental Health
America (MHA) “Mental illnesses can affect the rest of your body. Because of
changes in physical activity sleep or other factors still being researched, people
with mental illness are more likely to be at risk for other physical illnesses”
Retrieved on December 10th,2020: https://screening.mhanational.org/content/mental-illness-physical-or-mental

This is why it is important to keep in check with your mental health during covid 19
as it could have some deadly effects on you physically.
The physical effects of mental health include:
● Increased risk of heart disease
● High blood pressure
● Weakened immune system
● Obesity
● Gastrointestinal problems
● Premature death
● Irregular heart beat
● Sleep disorders
● Migraines
https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/effects-on-body
 Over half of the canadians that participated in an online questionnaire put on by statistics
canada said that their mental health has worsened since covid-19.

“Canadians were asked how their mental health has changed since physical distancing began.
Just over half (52%) of participants indicated that their mental health was either "somewhat worse"
or "much worse."

https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/issue-brief/the-implications-of-covid-19-for-mental-health-and-substance-use/
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/200527/dq200527b-eng.htm
The physical aspects of mental health have been on the
rise during covid 19 because:
● People are working from home and sitting down
more than we usually do
● It's hard for people to maintain the physical lifestyle
we are used to such as gyms, sports etc
● Elders have not been physically active, making bone
and muscle strength weaker, causing more falls and
injuries
● People have increased weight gain due to lack of
activity and motivation, risk of obesity
● Nonsuicidal self- harm has increased as a effect of
depression, Bipolar, Schizophrenia etc
Conclusion
In our presentation we have discussed the impacts of covid-19 on mental health.
People have been impacted in almost every aspect of their lives by the pandemic.
Covid-19 came on suddenly and rapidly and it has completely changed
everyone's lives. This has caused mass amounts of stress amongst all ages of
people. Its estimated that 970 million people worldwide have struggled with
mental illness. The people who struggled with mental health issues prior to the
pandemic have a higher mental health risk currently, than those who did not
previously struggle with mental illness. In our presentation we have gone over all
of the ways covid-19 has impacted mental health, and ways to cope during these
hard times.
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