Past Epidemics, Natural Disasters, COVID19, and Mental Health: Learning from History as we Deal with the Present and Prepare for the Future (Literature Review 5)

 

(Citation) Esterwood, Emily, and Sy Atezaz Saeed. “Past Epidemics, Natural Disasters, COVID19, and Mental Health: Learning from History as We Deal with the Present and Prepare for the Future.” Psychiatric Quarterly, vol. 91, no. 4, 2020, pp. 1121–33, doi:10.1007/s11126-020-09808-4.

(Summary) According to these authors research, there are a range of mental health consequences as a result of the pandemic, global shutdown, and isolation. The use of quarantine and stay at home orders to slow the spread of the virus have negative psychological consequences for the population including post traumatic stress. The authors think that this pandemic will be followed by a mental health crisis without intervention. They speculate that PTSD, alcohol use disorder, anxiety, and a range of other problems will be prevalent at a higher rate within society. 

(Authors) The authors are psychiatrists and experts on the effects that certain situations have on humans. Moreover, they researched past epidemics and tragedies to analyze the various ways in which these events had a negative impact on the population.

(Key terms) epidemic - rapid spread of disease to a large number of people in a given population within a short period of time, pandemic, covid19, post-traumatic stress

(3 Quotes)

"One of the widespread methods to control spread of disease during the COVID-19 outbreak is the use of quarantine. A review published on the psychological impact of quarantine in past pandemics identified resulting post-traumatic stress symptoms, confusion, and anger as commonly experienced negative psychological effects. Stressors during quarantine included infection fear, frustration, boredom, inadequate supplies, inadequate information, financial loss, stigma, and increasing quarantine duration" (1128).

"Past epidemics including the outbreak of SARS CoV-1 in 2003, Ebola in 2014, and MERS in 2015, the Anthrax threat in 2001, responses to past natural disasters, and articles already published on COVID-19, suggest the potential for numerous psychological effects during and following the COVID-19 pandemic. Alcohol use disorder, PTSD, anxiety, anger, fear of contagion, perceived risk, uncertainty, and distrust are just a few of the immediate and long-term effects that will likely result from the COVID-19 pandemic" (1129).

"We must recognize that the global Covid-19 pandemic will most likely be followed by another pandemic of mental and behavioral illness and we need to implement the steps needed to mitigate it" (1130).

(Value) This source is very valuable because it compares the pandemic with other tragedies the world has faced and discusses the impact they had on the population. This is helpful to put my argument into perspective and for evidence about the short term/long term effects that collective tragedy has on individuals.