THE EFFECT OF COVID-19 JOB LOSS ON MENTAL HEALTH

 

 

The coronavirus pandemic has been a testing time for many of us personally, professionally and financially, heaping added pressures on employers and employees alike. Accordingly, given the tumultuous state of the world, mental health experts have warned of a looming mental health crisis, with the coronavirus pandemic exacerbating common triggers of poor mental health such as illness and job insecurity

Job and income loss can be shocking. Without a job, people worry about affording food and paying their rent/mortgage and bills. COVID-19 has caused millions of people to lose their jobs at very high rates. The future is unknown because of the pandemic. This can make people’s mental health worse because they are very anxious about both their health and their jobs. Throughout the pandemic, many people across the country have experienced job or income loss, which has generally affected their mental health. Adults experiencing household job loss during the pandemic have consistently reported higher rates of symptoms of anxiety and/or depressive disorder compared to adults not experiencing household job loss . Similarly, findings from the December KFF health tracking Poll show that households experiencing income or job loss are significantly more likely to report that worry or stress over the coronavirus outbreak has negatively impacted their mental health.

The growing mental health crisis

Because of COVID-19 disruptions, more people might be experiencing:

• Chronic stress
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Substance abuse (drug and alcohol abuse)
  
  
  

Ways to cope with job and income loss

• Accept your feelings about losing your job.
• Recognize grief. Grief is an emotion that comes after losing someone or something. Your job loss might come with losing your sense of purpose or identity, which is a big part of you.
• Seek out resources. This can be filing for unemployment and getting help with food and housing.
• Don’t worry about the future. Everyone is most likely unsure about what happens after the pandemic. It’s important to focus on the present moment and on things you can control. This can help reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.
• Make sure to take care of yourself. Talk to someone you trust about your feelings or, if you can, seek out help from a mental health professional.

The link between suicide rates and unemployment rates

• There is research that shows that an unstable economy may be linked to increases in suicides and substance abuse.
• A study of the Great Recession (2007-2009) found that for every percentage point increase in the unemployment rate, the suicide rate increases by 1.6 percentage points.
• The pandemic may cause long-term financial stress for many Americans. Some workers may feel hopeless because they might not return to their jobs. This can increase their risk of suicidal thoughts.

What could suicide prevention look like during COVID-19? 

• Talking to someone. People can use their phones, tablets, and computers to share their feelings with another person. Staying social can reduce feelings of isolation and suicidal thoughts.
• Seeing a mental health professional through telehealth. This means that you can use your electronic devices for your mental health appointments.
• Overall increased access to mental health care.
• People contacting suicide attempt survivors for a short or long period of time after their attempt.

SHIVAM KUMAR