More and more people are complaining about anxiety and stress as the number of infections with the new coronavirus is increasing. This phenomenon has apparently come about because everyone, young or old, is being forced to go through a kind of endurance.
More and more people are complaining about anxiety and stress as the number of infections with the new coronavirus is increasing. This phenomenon has apparently come about because everyone, young or old, is being forced to go through a kind of endurance.
Helplines operated by mental health and welfare centers nationwide received more than 1,700 calls related to the virus from February to March.
Many callers expressed a fear of contracting the virus, with some saying they are too afraid to go out, while others said they can get into a panic over masks being sold out. Some callers also expressed concern over their financial situation because they have been off work, while others said they felt tired of taking care of elderly family members because they cannot use services from nursing care facilities.
These helplines have even received serious calls from people saying they feel so anxious that they contemplate suicide. These calls indicate that many people are suffering from a combination of anxieties over an unforeseeable future, fatigue and distress.
In a tough time like this, people can ease their anxiety by asking someone else to listen to their concerns, according to experts. It is important to improve support to help people maintain their mental well-being.
Private organizations offer help via social media, and this has been accessed by many in their 20s to 40s. Some entities also operate helplines for children up to the age of 18.
The central and local governments should cooperate with the private sector to upgrade counseling services to cover a wide range of concerns.
It is worrisome that people who are already suffering from depression and other mental illnesses could see their symptoms worsen if they feel stress and anxiety. Some point out the spread of the virus could also increase the risk of suicide.
It is important to take further steps for someone who contacts a consultation service, such as enabling them to contact a specialized medical institution as soon as possible if they are deemed in need of professional help.
The Japanese Society of Mood Disorders, a group consisting mostly of psychiatrists, has posted on its website tips on how people can maintain their mental well-being. These tips include getting up at the same time every day and getting about two hours of sunlight. The key is for people to maintain the rhythms of their daily life.
Insomnia, changes in appetite, depression and frustration can be described as signs of mental disorders. People are encouraged not to overlook changes in their loved ones.
It is essential to pay careful attention to elderly people living alone because they tend to become isolated. There are concerns that such elderly people could lose touch with society as people continue to refrain from going out, so any changes in their mood could go unnoticed for a while. Welfare officials are urged to boost their efforts to keep an eye on them by, for example, making phone calls to check on their condition.
It is also necessary to give consideration to pregnant and postpartum women, as they tend to feel unstable because of changes in their situation. They apparently feel concerned over whether they can maintain good health or will become infected with the virus. Some must also wonder if they can stay at their parents' home before and after giving birth. There are popular services out there in which midwives provide advice online. It is hoped that more and more similar services will become available.
-- The original Japanese article appeared in The Yomiuri Shimbun on April 30, 2020.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
