Uchenna Iloghalu
Guildford College, USA
Title: The impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of the western populace: A model for the examination of the virus’s global impacts on mental health
Biography
Biography: Uchenna Iloghalu
Abstract
COVID-19 has had lasting impacts on the physical and mental health of the global community. These impacts are multifaceted and spring from a range of physiological, psychological and economic origins. This review sought to demonstrate evidence of the damaging consequences that COVID-19 and its related effects have had on mental health. The findings showed significant increases in numbers of individuals seeking mental health care, experiencing negative mental health symptoms and opting for medication management of mental health symptoms. In this review, we explore logistical aspects of both present and prospective zoonotic disease spillover events, as this information is a key to mitigating future pandemic events. Furthermore, we summarize current knowledge of the impact of COVID-19 on mental health of the populations of Western countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Italy. Moreover, we discuss the influence of racial disparities in delivery of healthcare in the United States and their effects on the quality of, access to and awareness of mental health care. Our awareness of these issues has the potential to inform further research, aid and funding to the populations where it is most needed. Finally, we make recommendations for the direction of further research based on the findings of this article.