As a result of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak, the virus’ effects did not only impose socio-economic hardships, but also psychological impacts. Many psychological problems and consequences in terms of mental health, including stress, anxiety, depression, frustration and uncertainty during Covid-19 outbreak emerged progressively. In addition, quarantine and lockdown imposed in order to curb the Covid-19 spread created more anxiety, and the resulting economic recession negatively affected many people’s mental health and created new barriers for people already suffering from mental illness. The psychological impacts defined by medical practitioners may vary from panic behaviour to pervasive feelings of hopelessness and desperation, which might even result in more sinister outcomes, like suicidal conduct. When the country’s lockdown was eased at the beginning of May 2020, Kangondo residents in Nyarugenge District did not revel in the liberty because they were taken back to lockdown only one month later. “I received a call at 1am that I had tested positive. I felt stressed and nervous such that I thought about hiding. I had five kids in the house and wondered how I was going to leave them, but they were all required to quarantine,” says Odile Nyirahirwa, a resident of the village. “My life during the treatment centre was really hopeless. I remembered the news of people dying in Italy and other countries, which shocked me. During my treatment, I wasn’t able to sleep because I had many fearful thoughts in my mind,” she adds. Research conducted by the Covid-19 taskforce in May 2020, showed that 80 per cent of the patients admitted in the hospitals had acute stress reactions. Dr Mennelas Nkeshimana, an epidemiologist and head of the Covid-19 taskforce in Western Province who was among the research conductors, attributes the mental disorders to the information from the media. “If people watch news, knowing that there is a new disease claiming more lives of people in a very short period of time without a vaccination, they will be scared and suffer trauma,” he notes. He explains that the call people receive that they tested positive for the virus is very traumatising. According to Dr Magnus Gasana Udahemuka, a mental health expert and member of the Covid-19 national taskforce, is of the view that the upsurge in Covid-19 infections and fatalities could have a long-term impact in public health and lead to a rise in mental health issues. “Receiving the news that you tested positive for Covid-19 can easily cause a heart attack and long term mental problems. Additionally, when one loses a loved one to Covid-19, they start thinking of themselves as the next victim which causes stress and leads to depression,” he says. Udahemuka also believes that constant communication with relatives of Covid-19 patients could prepare them for the death of their loved ones mentally. “When doctors realise that a patient is in critical condition, it becomes vital to inform the relatives instead of surprising them with the worst news. Without prior communication, you are going to cause strong depression to the family of the victim,” he says. The World Health Organization has also said that Covid-19 has had high impacts on people’s mental health. Nearly 20 per cent of Covid-19 patients have developed mental health issues like depression and anxiety, among others, within three months of diagnosis. The pandemic has claimed lives of close to two million people worldwide.
