Mental Health Consequences of COVID-19: Implication for Counseling

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VII, Issue VI, June 2020 | ISSN 2321–2705

Mental Health Consequences of COVID-19: Implication for Counseling

Anthony Abah Ebonyi (Ph.D Final Defence)¹, Sa’adatu Adamu^2
1Department of Sociology, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria
²Secure the Future International Initiative, Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract:- This paper examines the rise in mental illness caused by the Coronavirus disease, and discusses measures, in terms of counseling necessary to mitigate the psychological trauma in its aftermath. The emergence of the novel Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19)and the measures such as lockdown, isolation, hand-washing, mask wearing, social/physical distancing, aim to curb its continuous spread and infection, has led to rise in mental illnesses among the populace. Reports show that most countries, including those having advanced health care facilities or structures, continue to grapple with the increasing challenge posed by the Coronavirus pandemic, especially its mental health complications. The paper uses secondary and documentary data, including, journal articles, agency reports and working papers and social media posts, to understand the rise in mental health illness during the COVID-19 pandemic and its implication for counselling. Findings reveal that COVID-19 has exacerbated old mental health challenges and thrown up new ones across different age groups and socio-economic classes, and left many in need of psychological support in terms of counseling interventions to help them cope with or regain their physical and mental wellbeing. It concludes that people with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) caused by COVID-19 need counseling which should be provided by trained and certified counseling psychologists or therapists.

Keywords: Covid-19, counselling, mental health, pandemic, PTSD

I. INTRODUCTION

Since the dawn of modern civilisation, the human race has yet to face any threat comparable to the current natural (or is it man-made) disaster of enormous proportion like the novel coronavirus disease, that has near-rubbished the most compact and sophisticated health systems and structures around the world. Thus, all countries including developed and developing, continue to grapple with this new disease pandemic that does not appear to be leaving the human circle any time soon. Coronavirus disease emerged from a large family of viruses which may cause illness in animals or humans. Several strands of coronavirus are known to cause respiratory infections in humans, including Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is said to be the latest of these virus diseases. It is a new virus and disease recently discovered in Wuhan, Province of Hubei in China, in December 2019, thus, the name COVID-19 (WHO, 2020, Ebonyi & Abok, 2020). The disease has caused and continues to cause monumental physical and mental damage to world populations.

Read More