In a comprehensive joint research effort by medical professionals and students from the Department of Mental Disease at BRD Medical College, the profound toll that the lockdown imposed during the COVID-19 crisis took on the mental well-being of individuals has come to light.
The study, conducted under the leadership of Department Head Tapas Kumar Aich, featured the collaborative efforts of Amil H Khan, Deepa Singh, Richa Pandey, Gaurav S Yadav and Prabhat K Aggarwal. It encompassed treatment provided via tele-consultation between April 2020 and October 2020, involving a sample of 968 participants.
As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, the lockdown’s impact on mental health became starkly evident. Initially, the number of patients seeking care at the BRD Medical College outpatient department (OPD) plummeted by a staggering 95 per cent. In response to this dramatic decline, healthcare providers transitioned to offering online treatment options. The team of doctors then embarked on a comparative analysis, examining patient volumes before and after the commencement of the lockdown.
In addition to the numerical analysis, the research incorporated insights from patients who received treatment during the lockdown period. The findings revealed a significant drop of 94.5 per cent in OPD registrations during the study duration. Within just three months of the tele-consultation service’s introduction by the Department of Mental Health, 23.5 per cent of individuals sought treatment for mental health issues.
Among these patients, 21.4 per cent presented with various types of headaches, while 15.9 per cent exhibited symptoms indicative of depression. Anxiety disorders were prevalent in 15.3 per cent of cases, with 8.8 per cent experiencing bipolar-affective disorder.
The study also highlighted the adverse consequences of the pandemic on the functioning of BRD Medical College. The presence of a Level-3 COVID-19 hospital within the BRD premises resulted in a decline in the number of patients seeking medical care, even for non-COVID-related issues. The fear of contracting COVID-19 deterred normal patients from accessing essential medical services, contributing to the overall strain on their mental health.
Additionally, the research revealed that the resources available at BRD could not be fully utilised due to the pandemic’s impact on hospital admissions and patient preferences.
The findings of this collaborative research indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown had a profound and lasting effect on the mental health of the population. Although the situation is gradually returning to normal, it is expected to take a considerable amount of time for individuals to fully recover from the psychological challenges they have faced. As we move forward, addressing these mental health concerns remains a critical component of comprehensive healthcare planning.