Covid-19 and mental health

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 pandemic poses a unique medical challenge to the humanity in last few months. The psychological impact of the pandemic itself and the lockdown in particular is likely to be very huge. Aim: To assess the psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic on general population in Uttar Pradesh. Materials and Methods:An online questionnaire using google forms was sent to a sample of general population in July 2020. Filling of the forms was entirely independent of any compulsions and was purely. A 27- self-designed questionnaire was used for the study. Total 500 responses were received by the stipulated time. Results: A largest percentage of the respondents felt more worried and depressed, in the past few weeks. (24%) of the respondents were thinking of getting themselves tested for the presence of COVID‑19 without having any symptoms. Majority (77%) of the respondents were worried about the financial loss they were facing during the period of lockdown. (86%) and (48%) of the respondents found that this pandemic had made their existence very difficult due to which they are still adjusting themselves to the ‘new normal’ routine, respectively.Conclusion: This pandemic has created a threat to everyone’s existence to a great extent and affected their mental condition negatively, including their sleep cycle and had made them more worried and depressed.