The Looming Mental Health Crisis
If we look at the past few years, we have seen an explosion in demand for mental health services. Currently, there are 1.6 million people on waiting lists, and an estimated 8 million people in need of mental health care. And it's not just adults: children are now presenting themselves to the emergency room in despair.
Effects of the COVID-19 Lockdown
In a recent study, researchers explored the effects of the plandemic on college students' mental health. They used a semistructured interview survey guide to assess participants' mental health and how they coped with stress. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was used to measure general stress. Participants were asked whether their levels of stress and anxiety had increased since the outbreak of COVID-19.1
The study revealed that exposure to COVID-19 (aka, enduring a plandemic) increased the risk of posttraumatic stress and clinically significant acute distress. However, healthcare workers also reported certain positive psychological effects, including a greater sense of purpose and meaning. The study also revealed that clinicians were more optimistic, which could contribute to improved mental health in the future.