Pandemic impact on mental health

The second wave of COVID-19 in many states in India has caused a fresh bout of anxiety in many across the country. People even in those states which have not reported any fatality or spike in the second wave are worried over fresh bouts of uncertainties in life gripping them. News of disruption in normalcy such as fresh imposition of night curfews in many towns in Maharashtra, weekend shutdown of malls and multiplexes increases the anxiety level. India's resilience against COVID-19 disruptions during nationwide lockdown and travel restrictions helped cope many people with mental health issues caused by initial uncertain period of pandemic. On the International Day of Happiness observed globally on this day, the spike in COVID-19 cases brings home the lessons to keep building the resilience against the pandemic. This is essential to prevent the mental health inequalities from being widened by fresh peak in the pandemic curve. The World Happiness Report 2021 has highlighted that initial effects of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health ill-symptoms "were worst in younger age groups and women, ethnic minorities, and those with pre-existing mental health problems, thus reinforcing many pre-existing mental health inequalities". The long-run effects of the pandemic's economic consequences on mental health could be substantial, the report cautioned. Rolling out the vaccination drive against COVID-19 in India boosted the confidence among people in country building its resilience and putting economy back on the rails. However, the vaccination process has been quite slow. Ministry of Health data show that only 3.93 crore population of the total 121 crore population in India have so far been vaccinated. The age and comorbidity restrictions have slowed down the vaccination drive and kept the younger population out of it. Easing the restrictions and facilitating faster vaccination drive is critical to preventing mental health inequalities increasing on account of the fresh wave of pandemic. Poll fever has gripped Assam and public crowding has risen tremendously as part of submission of nomination papers, election rallies, roadshows. Observation of the COVID-19 appropriate behaviour of wearing facemask, maintaining physical distance norms is a rarity in all such election gatherings. The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer in the state is preparing to conduct the polls by adhering to guidelines issued by the Election Commission such as increasing the number of polling stations to ensure maintenance of physical distance norms, wearing of face mask, postal ballots for every voter aged 80 years and above. However, political parties and candidates have shown no inclination in observing the guidelines issued by the Election Commission. Detection of low number of positive cases in the state is not going to keep the anxiety level of the vulnerable groups down as they are exposed to news about fresh peak in pandemic in other states. Lessons must be learnt from adverse effects on mental health among the students on account of disruption in classroom teachings during the lockdown and beyond. Majority of the students who do have access to internet or belong to poor and downtrodden families which cannot afford to buy a smartphone could not attend online classes too. The classrooms were gradually returning to normalcy with resumption of normal activities with observance of COVID-19 appropriate behaviour and handwashing norms. The state cannot afford to allow a fresh disruption in academic activities as well as in other spheres. Long-term impact on mental health of a fresh peak in the pandemic leading to disruption in normal life as in Maharashtra, Gujarat and some other states will be difficult to manage. Assam government has issued fresh COVID-testing protocols at the airport which requires passengers arriving from outside the state to remain in home quarantine for four days till the result of free RTPCR test sample is declared to be negative. If a passenger pays Rs 2200 then the RTPCR result will be available in 24 hours and the person is not required to be quarantined if the sample is found to be negative. A spike in cases will lead to fresh imposition of travel restrictions at the airports, railway stations, inter-state bus terminus which will have cascading impact on economic activities adding to the anxiety of people. Review of the prevailing situation by the health department and measures to ensure mandatory facemask wearing is the needed to assess the preparedness to prevent a second wave in the state. The cumulative total number of people who have received second dose of vaccines in Assam is less than 93,000 and cumulative number of people who have been given first dose stands at 5.12 lakh which are quite less compared to total population of 3.12 crores. Ramping up vaccination drive along with strict enforcement of facemask wearing in public places are critical to sustain the resilience of people against economic shocks of the pandemic and for their mental wellbeing.