Nicholas Lubwama, an IT specialist, can’t emphasise enough just how much COVID-19 has affected him. Apart from being detached from his family and friends, he says his mind is in ‘lazy mode’ from waking up to do nothing. Sleep and movies are the order of the day. He is now addicted to his phone, and has even downloaded a number of games, just to stay occupied. Due to lack of what to do, he finds himself eating a lot because he ‘feels hungry’ every other hour, something he worries will take a toll on his weight. He is also concerned that he can’t see his girlfriend. Although they chat via video calls, he still misses the physical connection. Each day that passes, he kneels down, asking God for this tough time to pass. These last two weeks seemed like three months to him. For Rachel Uwimana, a student and resident of Kicukiro, there is too much stress; even a simple sneeze could be a sign of coronavirus. She wonders why the virus has put everyone’s life at a standstill. As a Christian, she misses attending church services and fellowshipping with other members of the church. The excessive boredom is way too much for her to bear, and she worries about what is yet to come. Many people all over the world are in the same predicament; the pandemic has ruined lives — caused losses, called for isolation and total shutdown. Health experts say that the coronavirus is causing increased stress, anxiety, and mental health problems, as reactions to the crisis could cause fear, sadness, anger, helplessness, and worse. Experts further explain that some people may have difficulty sleeping or concentrating, or experience physical symptoms, such as an increased heart rate or upset stomach. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), since the crisis comes with stress, the public has been warned to avoid watching, reading or listening to news that causes feelings of anxiety or grief. WHO notes that the pandemic and the school closures can also negatively affect children’s mental health. They may no longer have that sense of structure and inspiration that is provided by that environment, adding that children are likely to be experiencing worry, anxiety and fear — and this can include the hopes and fears that are very similar to the fears adults are experiencing. For instance, fear of dying, fear of their relatives dying, and fear of what it means to receive medical treatment. Additionally, parents are called upon to avoid showing anxiety as it will have a negative impact on the children’s behaviour. WHO announced that the agency is arranging a set of guidelines addressing children’s mental welfare, for young people aged four to 10, to be released soon. Dr Joseph Ryarasa Nkuruzinza, Chairperson of Health Development Initiative, says that social distancing, if not properly implemented, may lead to mental health issues. For instance, the majority of households depend on daily income to survive. Under the current lockdown, most breadwinners in households are not working, yet they have daily expenses. This creates a state of fear, embarrassment, anger, and uncertainty. He notes that similarly, social distancing brings family members farther apart, which is ideally a good thing but on the other hand, may worsen the existing intra-family conflicts. These conflicts may, in turn, lead to mental health issues. Additionally, social distancing can lead to frustration and boredom that results from confinement, loss of usual routine, and reduced social and physical contact with others. “Suicide prevention experts say that it is reasonable to expect that the current pandemic will lead to increased suicide risk for certain populations. Social distancing and quarantines may trigger those currently dealing with suicidal thoughts. Research shows that the social and economic fallout from the pandemic may amplify the risk for some people after the outbreak has ended,” he Nkurunziza says. Nkurunziza also points out that people should find their own peace so that they can effectively prevent the contagious epidemic of fear, through reading the Bible, praying, reading books, writing poems, listening to songs, exercising, caring for others, among others. However, health experts urge people to avoid stigmatising and discriminating people who have recovered from the virus because fighting the coronavirus outbreak requires joint effort. Experts note that people should look out for signs of distressing mental health; symptoms may include, fear and worry about one’s own health, changes in sleep or eating patterns, difficulty concentrating, worsening of chronic health problems and increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other harmful substances. The UN Health agency also points to the benefits of helping others, such as calling neighbours or community members who may need some extra assistance and working together as a community, which can help create solidarity in addressing COVID-19. “Everyone is called upon to honour caretakers and healthcare workers for the role they play in saving lives and keeping their loved ones safe, while assuring health workers that it is normal to feel “under pressure” and emphasising that stress doesn’t mean that they cannot do their job or that they are weak,” The UN Health agency states. WHO urges caretakers and health workers to rest sufficiently, eat healthy foods, get physical activity and stay in contact with family and friends.
