Owing to the unprecedented circumstances due to the nationwide pandemic, looks like there is no immediate end in sight. And as months gradually pass, this lockdown has been taking a toll on mental health of people. For those looking forward to enter the corporate world and, for a vast majority of people, this has been one of a kind experience. Add to this, the fear of losing jobs, the failing and ailing economy, crumbling fragments of health care sector, and the prolonged periods at work; all of these factors have amalgamated to put tremendous pressure on the mental well-being of people.
According to a recent survey on mental health, it has reportedly been found, that as many as 43 per cent of Indians are currently plagued with depression. According to GOQii — a smart-tech aided preventive healthcare ecosystem, which has conducted the survey across 10,000+ Indians to take a comprehensive understanding how COVID-19 has disrupted the old lifestyle and how people are adapting to the new normal — the last five months have been totally unforeseen, and have adversely created a large impact on the health habits of citizens across the country.
With a slew of lockdowns in place, anxiety, job cuts, health scares, and the overall volatile environment, stress levels are at the peak always.
Of the 43 per cent of people muddling with depression, 26 per cent are surviving with a mild form of it, while 17 per cent face a more strenuous and disastrous kind, the survey establishes. Six per cent of people are severely depressed. Evidences show that this is a cause of concern with more than 59 per cent of the population having little or no interest to pursue their routine activities — out of which, 38 per cent has this fleeting feeling, and 9 per cent feels this way on more occasions. Twelve per cent of the population experiences this on a daily basis.
The survey also clears the mist that more than 57 per cent of the population feels drained out or has zero energy on some days, and more than 15 per cent go through a terrible phase for the most part of the week. This leads to some people oversleeping, while some others have sleeplessness or insomnia. With a change in lifestyle, approximately half the population is having trouble with sleep. Seven per cent of people go through this nearly every day, while 33 per cent experienced it for a few days.
“Our study indicates that an increasing number of people across the country are dealing with mental health issues triggered by the spread of the coronavirus and the consequent lockdown. The mounting uncertainty is the basis of the high-stress index which can be controlled with a balanced diet, changes in lifestyle and appropriate sleep patterns. Mental health has a huge impact on physical health and overall quality of life, hence addressing it sooner with a healthy and wholesome lifestyle is the only way ahead,” Vishal Gondal, Founder and CEO, GOQii, said.