Mental Health in a Pandemic World

COVID-19 Forever Changed Mental Health Care.

- Chris Mellides

The various impacts of the global pandemic have increased worry among people in pursuit of relief. As inflation rates soar and industrywide shortages have only furthered societal stress, there are people turning their attention to application-based solutions for their mental health treatment.

Telehealth usage skyrocketed in popularity near the start of COVID-19 from 2019 into present day. New viral strains continue popping up and have made transitioning back to pre-pandemic life harder to fathom, no matter the age group.

However, there are other ways to seek treatment without leaving the comfort of your own home. But, if you’re more on the go and need a quick affirmation or pick-me-up, you’re a text message or a one-on-one video session away from making that a reality.

Conventional therapy is such that a stigma is still associated when seeking treatment, particularly with the ill effects and persistence of the pandemic along with subsequent worries that stem from volatile world events. This has left many young people seeking more discreet and accessible means of receiving alternative assistance.

Dr. Neha Jain, who specializes in mood and anxiety disorders and is a faculty member at the University of Connecticut’s (UConn Health) psychiatry department says that while there is a “rapid proliferation” in the app-based field, “new apps on the market are far outpacing both research and regulations.”

This, according to the doctor, can muddy the perception of effectiveness when it comes to these newer treatment methods.