COVID-19 and New Psycho-Social Issues | UPSC
HEADLINES:
COVID-19 outbreak sets new challenges to psycho-social issues
WHY IN NEWS:
The COVID-19 pandemic is preparing us to adapt to a diverse way of living with positives and major negatives that directly or indirectly affect our mental states
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: 4 : Health:Diseases : Behavioural Patterns
LEARNING:
It is important to understand overall impact of COVID-19 on society as a whole . This is the time wherein we have to find multiple ways of defeating pandemic for our survival .
ISSUE:
STUDIED BY
- A recent study of the impacts of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Odisha and Uttar Pradesh.
- This was conducted by the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER).
IMPORTANT OBSERVATIONS
SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND HEALTH IMPACTS
- Adults who suffered from chronic breathlessness.
- Children who had acute respiratory conditions and
- Women with gynaecological problems.
EMPLOYMENT SCENARIO
- Around 27 per cent and 30 per cent of the households had no income during the lockdown.
- Urban households (43 per cent) reported more loss of income compared to their rural counterparts (24 per cent).
- 81 per cent in Odisha agreed some reduction in income.
- The impact of the lockdown is above and beyond economic impacts.
SOCIETAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ELEMENTS
- These are a new instances most of us can relate to in this world of the ‘new normal’.
- The lockdown intensified the number of those who became frustrated and depressed.
- Children are getting depressed as well.
- This pandemic is preparing us to adapt to a diverse way of living.
EFFECT ON MENTAL HEALTH
- Sense of detachment.
- Loneliness.
- Fear of losing our loved ones.
- Stressing about our futures.
COVID-19: COMMON REACTIONS
It’s normal for people to experience a wide range of thoughts, feelings and reactions including:
- Feeling stressed or overwhelmed
- Anxiety, worry, or fear
- Racing thoughts
- Sadness, tearfulness, loss of interest in usual enjoyable activities
- Physical symptoms, such as increased heart rate, stomach upset, fatigue, or other uncomfortable sensations
- Frustration, irritability, or anger
- Restlessness or agitation
- Feeling helpless
- Difficulty concentrating or sleeping
- Feeling disconnected from others
- Apprehension about going to public spaces
- Trouble relaxing
COVID-19 and New Psycho-Social Issues
STRESS MANAGEMENT
- This showed how stressed an individual can become from fewer social interactions.
- The absence of opportunities for physical gatherings, to a large extent, causes depression in a certain set of people in society.
- Stress is always a result of external repercussions and is presently coming from all directions.
IASbhai WINDUP:
- Dealing with such hard-hitting conditions, it’s our human tendency to hunt for a support system.
- Care and reliability from others
- This season of insecurity has worried the populace economically, socially and psychologically.
- There is an urgency to build a system of ‘living cooperation’ to overcome the increasing dread of social-distancing and isolation.
”The only feasible way of defeating the pandemic is containing and eradicating it for our survival.”
SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB | COVID-19 and New Psycho-Social Issues | UPSC
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