Coronavirus Lockdown and Mental Health - Essay Example

"Coronavirus Lockdown and Mental Health" is a great example of a paper on the disorder. For the past four months, the world has faced various challenges attributed to the deadly coronavirus. Since its emergence, the virus has infected 6.08 million people worldwide, killing 370, 000 people. The impacts of the coronavirus are diverse, touching on all aspects of life. Economies have been affected significantly as productivity rates reduced. Deaths, mental problems, unemployment, and other social challenges are attributed to the virus (Mizumoto and Gerardo, 1256).

In a move to stop the spread of the virus, various countries have adopted the World Health organization guidelines such as lockdown to halt the spread of COVID-19. Given the negative impacts of total lockdown, governments need to focus on other measures outlined by WHO, such as a ban on public gathering, use of facemask, and washing of hands instead of lockdown.According to the WHO, the virus is spread through hand washing using alcohol-based sanitizers, using facemasks in public places, maintaining social distance, and avoiding crowded places (Mizumoto and Gerardo, 1256).

With the continued increase in infection rate, most countries in Europe and African implemented a total lockdown in the country as a mitigation measure. It is stated that declaring a complete lockdown where there is no movement reduces the spread of the virus among 406 people in twenty-four hours. However, the adverse impacts associated with lockdown make people question whether it is necessary.Hiremath et al. (n.d) noted that even though most countries, especially in Africa, have managed to use lockdown to stop the spread of the virus, they will have to face the long-term psychological consequences of lockdown such as mental health disorders.

When people are lockdown in their homes for a long time, such as two weeks without enough food, they tend to overthink. This may result in mental disorders such as anxiety and, in extreme cases, lead to depression. Without movement, people cannot interact and share their feelings about the pandemic, which makes them lose social connection. As the common say denotes, "no man is an Island, "and human beings cannot be isolated for a long time and come out the same. The number of mental health patients in the future can be reduced if the government can formulate immense psychological and physical adaption strategies for people.

Social isolation has severe negative impacts on older people, teenagers, and those who live alone. There is an increased risk of suicidal behavior and dark periods. The condition may be worse for those who were already experiencing physical and mental health challenges. Further, the trauma due to coronavirus panic is catalyzed by social isolation, which fosters more mental health problems. It is essential to note that there are people who cannot endure isolation and the absence of physical activities.

Such individuals tend to develop deep anxiety, insomnia, and nervousness. Consequently, there will be massive growth of general bouts of stress and a feeling of vulnerability.It is reasonable to argue that lockdown is an effective solution to the spread of coronavirus; nevertheless, the future cost of mental health disorders outweighs its current benefits. In a nutshell, the psychological effects of lockdown are worse than their effectiveness in stopping the virus. It is therefore vital that governments under lockdown and those preparing for lockdown should reconsider and focus on other measures that have no future cost.