Shift from black swan to brown swan approach during the COVID pandemic

Abstract

The pandemic of COVID-19 and the lockdown imposed which took the entire world by storm has not only tested our physical health but also impacted our mental health in ways no one had envisaged! It led to a situation of socioeconomic crisis and mental anguish among the general population. It was indeed a black swan event as the response to the pandemic with worldwide lockdown was highly unpredictable having a colossal impact on the world and its functioning, however, several explanations have now come into view that has made the event explainable and predictable. The outbreak of a novel virus unknown to the medical fraternity and its explosive spread every day, conflicting messages from the government, lack of infrastructure for treatment, the spread of misinformation on media platforms, and an incessant quarantine have led to a sense of fear, apprehension, stress, desolation, weariness, frustration, and depression among the masses. The imposition of lockdown in the nation not only undermined personal freedom but also lead to huge financial losses, unemployment, work, and school closure, uncertainty, boredom, and stigma which had been major stressors leading to widespread emotional affliction and an increased risk of developing psychiatric illness during the time of the pandemic. People who were already suffering from some form of psychiatric disorder had been prone to exacerbations due to the pandemic. Individuals living with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases, frontline workers, unemployed people, and people in quarantine were at a higher risk of developing some form of mental illness such as anxiety, insomnia, and depression. Resilience and good social support are the protective factors against this mental health epidemic that has begun. In this article, we reflect upon the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown on the mental health of people in India.