Countries across Europe should be braced for a huge rise in the number of individuals “in the grip of severe mental illness” in the coming months as the impact of the coronavirus pandemic is felt far and wide, according to the regional head of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Dr Hans Henri P Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, said today that the mental health impact of the pandemic will be “long-term and far-reaching”.
And he warned that mental health challenges remain “deeply stigmatized” in many communities across Europe..
There have been close to 23 million cases of Covid-19 in Europe this year and more than half a million deaths.
A number of academic studies have pointed to the likelihood of a major mental health crisis developing across Europe – and worldwide – as anxieties around virus transmission, the psychological impact of lockdowns and self-isolation, the effects of unemployment, financial worries and social exclusion all take their toll.
In a winter statement in which he also urged people not to travel for Christmas in an effort to minimise the spread of Covid-19, Dr Kluge said: “It is clear that even though the impact has varied, no demographic or age group has been spared.
“The mental health toll of Covid-19 will be compounded by anxieties that often present during the winter and holiday season. We cannot underestimate the impact this can have on our friends, our families and our own mental health.
“Without the traditional physical support networks to rely on, it is vital we take steps to counter the mental health impact on individuals and our communities in any way we can.”
Calling on individuals, communities and countries to tackle the stigma around mental ill health, Dr Kluge said: “Community sensitization to the spectrum of mental health challenges will be important as the true scale of the crisis becomes clearer. Specialized care and support services need to be sustained for those in the grip of more severe mental health challenges.”
Dr Kluge said that “overall, the devastation of the pandemic has been far-reaching and relentless, with lost lives and livelihoods”.
He said: “COVID-19 has forced families and communities apart, bankrupted businesses, and deprived people of opportunities that a year ago were taken for granted.
“We expect to see a larger number of people facing more severe mental health challenges in the coming months as the reality of this experience takes hold. In acknowledgement of the growing crisis, I am calling for concerted action to invest in stronger mental health care services, particularly those that bring care to the community or utilize digital care to reduce obstacles to vital assistance.”