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What are some of the mental and emotional impacts of COVID-19?

  • Aniya Faulcon
FILE - A sign requiring masks as a precaution against the spread of the coronavirus on a store front in Philadelphia, is seen Feb. 16, 2022. Philadelphia is reinstating its indoor mask mandate after reporting a sharp increase in coronavirus infections, Dr. Cheryl Bettigole, the city's top health official, announced Monday, April 11, 2022. Confirmed COVID-19 cases have risen more than 50% in 10 days, the threshold at which the city's guidelines call for people to wear masks indoors. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

 Matt Rourke / AP

FILE - A sign requiring masks as a precaution against the spread of the coronavirus on a store front in Philadelphia, is seen Feb. 16, 2022. Philadelphia is reinstating its indoor mask mandate after reporting a sharp increase in coronavirus infections, Dr. Cheryl Bettigole, the city's top health official, announced Monday, April 11, 2022. Confirmed COVID-19 cases have risen more than 50% in 10 days, the threshold at which the city's guidelines call for people to wear masks indoors. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

Airdate: December 14, 2022

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According to the World Health Organization, as of Tuesday, there have been over 645 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and over 6.6 million deaths due to COVID-19.

Dr. Rena Ferguson, Member of the HealthyWomen Women’s Health Advisory Council, Dr. Sal Giorgianni, Men’s Health Network’s Senior Science Advisor, and Armin Brott, author, columnist, and radio host who often focuses on fatherhood joined us on The Spark Wednesday to discuss the mental and emotional impacts of COVID-19.

Dr. Giorgianni said, COVID-19 has effected every demographic worldwide in dramatic and tragic ways.

Here are some of the ways COVID-19 has impacted people emotionally and mentally:

  • Vaccine hesitancy, hostility, and confusion
  • COVID-19 fatigue
  • Grief
  • Lack of human connection
  • Dealing with the challenges of the pandemic virtual learning aftermath
  • Increase of alcohol and substance abuse
  • Anxiety and depression

Dr. Giorgianni said, we can combat the negative effects of COVID-19 by understanding the depth of these issues and connecting with social network circles to address them early on.

Dr. Fergurson said, the impacts of COVID-19 that we discussed during The Spark on Wednesday will change society as we know it forever.

 

 

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