Fear of being infected, fears for the health of loved ones, quarantine, unemployment, financial problems, social isolation - according to experts, the consequences of the pandemic on the mental health of the population will be felt for a long time. This was announced today by the head of the European Bureau of the World Health Organization, Dr. Hans Kluge.
He recalled that according to surveys conducted by the International Labor Organization, every second young person aged 19-29 experiences anxiety or depression. The trend also applies to other age groups, according to a WHO representative. In the winter months, such ailments in general are often exacerbated, and against the background of a pandemic, they can become an even greater threat to public health.
He suggests mobilizing social resources to support the most vulnerable groups of the population. In addition, the head of the WHO Office for Europe urged governments in the region to invest in programs to protect people's mental health.
WHO recommends spending the holidays at home
“The safest thing now is to celebrate the holidays at home,” urged Dr. Hans Kluge. - Remember that even when you are apart from loved ones, you should not feel lonely: communicate, correspond, call up, support each other!
"Now the main thing is safety and health," he stressed. - Vaccines are on the way, so we can hope for a better future. We have to endure for a few more months, but then we will have reason to be proud that we have shown responsibility. ”
