Coronavirus and Mental Health - How We Can Take Care of Ourselves During Infectious Disease Outbreak

Infectious disease outbreaks, such as the coronavirus (COVID-19), create significant distress for the public and strain health care systems tasked with caring for affected individuals and containing the disease. Fear and uncertainty heavily influence public behaviors. Concerns focus on personal and family safety, inability to distinguish the new disease from more established and benign illnesses, potential for isolation and quarantine, effectiveness of treatments being used, and trust in institutions responsible for managing the response.

Adverse psychological and behavioral responses to infectious disease outbreaks are common and include insomnia, reduced feelings of safety, scapegoating, increased use of alcohol and tobacco, somatic symptoms (physical symptoms, such as lack of energy and general aches and pains), and increased use of medical resources. While media can be a useful tool for sharing knowledge, it also enables rumors and conspiracy theories to be amplified, which can distract public attention from accurate sources of information, reduce participation in health-promoting behaviors, and further community divisions. Distress about the infectious disease outbreak is often increased by exposure to traditional and social media content, which is often sensational in nature and may contain misinformation.

During an outbreak, timely and accurate information play a critical role in controlling the spread of illness and managing fear and uncertainty. Knowing what to do helps people feel safer and enhances the belief that they can take meaningful steps to protect themselves. During an infectious disease outbreak, the recommendations below are helpful for patients and their families:

1. Stay informed. Obtain current information about the outbreak from trusted sources, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov and the World Health Organization at www.who.int.

2. Educate. Follow and share basic information about hygiene to reduce spread of illness, such as handwashing and cough etiquette.

3. Correct misinformation. For health care workers, help correct inaccurate information and misperceptions by sharing credible, established public health resources.

4. Limit media exposure. Use media enough to make informed decisions, then turn it off.

5. Anticipate and address stress reactions. Keep in mind that it’s normal to feel stress in reaction to an infectious disease outbreak and be aware of signs of stress in yourself or family members. Take steps to minimize and address stress, such as keeping normal routines, taking part in enjoyable activities, focusing on positive aspects of your life and things that you can control; seeking support from friends and family; and engaging in stress reduction techniques and physical activity.

The recommendations above for patients and families are adapted from mental health education fact sheets at the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress at www.cstsonline.org. See more information on coronavirus response from CSTS.