The effects of the COVID-19

pandemic on a person’s
overall well being

By: Sabrina Camberos

What is COVID-19?

● A new corona virus identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019.

● Causes severe illness and even death.
● Common symptoms: fever, chills, shortness of breath, new loss of taste
or smell, sore throat, congestion, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting.
● older adults and people who have have underlying conditions are at
increased risk of severe illness.
● COVID-19 seems to spread more easily than flu and causes more
serious illnesses in some people.
● It can take longer before people show symptoms and people can be
contagious for longer.
The effects of isolation
● 53% of adults in the United States reported that their mental health has been negatively
impacted due to worry and stress over the coronavirus
● Burnout among front-line workers
● Anxiety
● Depression
● Introversion
● suicidal ideation
● occurrence of fearful spells
● psychosocial distress
● Life-satisfaction
● sleep difficulties
● Hyperarousal
● Overeating
● Mental illness
● Substance abuse
● Other factors of stress during the pandemic: the economy, racism, the presidential
election, job loss.
Elder population
● Older adults are at greater risk of requiring hospitalization or
dying if diagnosed with COVID 19.
● increased feelings of loneliness and anxiety
● feelings of uncertainty and fear due to the pandemic.
 Coping strategies
Developing a mental health plan

Structure your day

Connect with others

Set boundaries for media consumption

Manage negative thoughts and feelings

Connect with resources

Fitness, diets, and wellness trends
● People at home workout more
● Virtual fitness
● Yoga, meditation, walking
● Fitness apps
● Organic foods and products
● Keto and vegan diets
● Using herb remedies compared to
prescriptions
● Home cooking
● Healthier sleeping habits
Health statistics
● More than 2 in 5 US residents report struggling with mental or behavioral health
issues associated with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, including
anxiety, depression, increased substance use, and suicidal thoughts.
● The 2019 CDC Adult Obesity Prevalence Maps1 show that obesity remains high –
twelve states now have an adult obesity prevalence at or above 35 percent:
Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi,
Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
This is up from nine states in 2018.
● 34.2 million people have diabetes (10.5% of the US population)
● Nearly a quarter (24%; 398/1,648) of admitted COVID-19 patients died during
hospitalization.
Suggestions
● Self-care:
○ Exercise
○ Eat healthy
○ Practice breathing
○ Spend time outside
● The National Alliance on Mental Illness
helpline: 800-950-6264

● Take breaks from upsetting content

● Be compassionate with yourself and

others

● Set and maintain a routine at home

What will I do?
I feel this pandemic has put a pause on the world. It has created many burdens
on people all around the world. There are financial, physical, mental,
behavioral, and spiritual burdens. People feel powerless, isolated, confused,
scared, unsafe, and sad. I think this pandemic caused people to really slow
down, take a step back and look at what is important in life: family, health, and
safety. We are so focused on money and greed and life can really humble us. It
has exposed how privileged some people are and how they need to
appreciate that. For myself, it is important that I take care of my mental and
physical health during this pandemic. I will limit my time on social media
because this is what instills fear and anxiety in me. I will focus on my eating and
exercise habits. I also will focus on connecting with family and friends more. I
feel like life moves quickly when all you focus on is school and work.
 References:

CDC. (2020, February 11). Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

CDC. (2020, February 11). Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/older-adults.html

Chidambaram, P. (2020, August 21). The Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health and Substance Use. KFF.

https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/issue-brief/the-implications-of-covid-19-for-mental-health-and-substance-use/

Columbia University. (2020, November 18). Coping During a Pandemic. Student Health on Haven.

https://www.studenthealth.cuimc.columbia.edu/resources-and-support/covid-19-resources/coping-during-pandemic

Haleem, A., Javaid, M., & Vaishya, R. (2020). Effects of COVID-19 pandemic in daily life. Current medicine research and practice, 10(2), 78–79.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmrp.2020.03.011

Li, H. O.-Y., & Huynh, D. (2020, May 25). Long-term social distancing during COVID-19: A social isolation crisis among seniors? CMAJ: Canadian Medical

Association Journal, 192(21), E588. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A624517431/SCIC?u=csuci&sid=SCIC&xid=50818401

Mukhtar S. (2020). Psychological impact of COVID-19 on older adults. Current medicine research and practice , 10(4), 201–202.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmrp.2020.07.016

New COVID-19 Findings Reported from Philipps-University Marburg (Lockdown, quarantine measures, and social distancing: Associations

with depression, anxiety and distress at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic among adults from Germany). (2020, October

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Stress in America 2020 Survey Signals a Growing National Mental Health Crisis. (2020, November 2). Mental Health Weekly Digest, 1766.

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Wei, M. (2020). Social Distancing and Lockdown - An Introvert's Paradise? An Empirical Investigation on the Association Between

Introversion and the Psychological Impact of COVID19-Related Circumstantial Changes. Frontiers in Psychology, NA.

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