MENTAL ECOLOGY IN THE STRUCTURE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

Currently, a sufficient amount of data has been accumulated on the negative COVID-19 pandemic impact and its socio-economic consequences on human mental health and mental ecology in general. The public health strategies success used to cope with pandemics is largely determined by psychological factors and mental values prevailing in the community. The aim was to systematize the psychological response features of various social, professional and national groups representatives during the COVID-19 period within the framework of the main mental ecology provisions. The review methodological basis was the use of the World Health Organization (WHO) documents and open sources of the Scopus and Web of Science databases on the population mental health in the COVID-19 pandemic conditions. A significant increase in adaptive and anxiety-depressive disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic is shown. Among the specific mental phenomena associated with the pandemic, coronaphobia, COVID-19-stress syndrome, covid-dissidence manifestations with involvement in conspiracy theories and mythological thinking were identified. The negative infodemia impact on the mental ecology, as well as adherence to anti-epidemic measures and readiness for vaccination, has been established. Negative trends have been demonstrated in communities where the maximum infection and death risk is associated with low adherence to epidemiological measures and vaccination refusal. Belonging to certain social or professional groups largely determines a person's behavior in relation to a new coronavirus infection within the framework of accepted social norms. Based on the analysis of a large domestic and international data number on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic emergency situation on the human psyche, its significant adverse contribution to the overall mental ecology was noted. The necessity of developing special therapeutic and psycho-prophylactic programs aimed at coping with the stress pandemic impact and treating affective disorders, countering infodemia and strengthening behavioral patterns to maintain mental health and person well-being is substantiated.