Relieving Pandemic-Related Psychological Distress: Key Protective Factors Against Mental Health Impairment

Abstract

Over the two past years, mental health professionals have warned about the negative mental health consequences related to the covid pandemic. Most commonly reported are increased rates of depression, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress symptoms, sleep and appetite disturbance, contagion fears, frustration, burden, boredom, and suicidal behavior [1-5]. Previous resreach by our group has found that in low-resourced, high-risk communities characterized by pre-existing condition of extreme poverty, violence, and limited educational and occupational opportunities, there is a high prevalence of Persistent Pandemic-Related Distress Syndrome (Authors, in press), a condition representing on-going mental health impairment consisting of psychological distress and physical symptomatology persisting for an extended period of at least 6-months after mitigation efforts such as lockdown and social distancing restrictions were lifted and unrelated to contagion and infection fears.