THE state of the economy is one of the main concerns of people during the current Covid-19 pandemic.
This was revealed by Clinical Psychologist at the Medical Sciences Faculty of the University of West Indies Dr Katija Khan.
She said a survey was done to deal with the psychological impact of the pandemic on the public.
Dr Khan was speaking at the virtual media conference of the Ministry of Health on Monday.
She said respondents were given a list of 25 issues and asked to rate their level of concern for each. These issues included getting Covid, job loss, paying bills and water supply.
Dr Khan said the top five concerns listed by citizens during this pandemic were:
- The Economy;
- Becoming infected;
- Managing stress levels;
- Reduced social contact; and
- Getting accurate information about Covid-19.
Dr Khan said stress affected both physical and mental health and noted the importance of getting information from reputable sources.
She said, “In a study of 1,000 adults, 17 % showed depression symptoms at levels requiring professional help. Whereas, 26.7% showed anxiety scores which required professional help.”
Dr Khan said anxiety and depression were mostly found in younger adults rather than older adults.
She said, “We need to find healthy outlets for stress that are in compliance with the health regulations.”
Dr Khan urged families to identify and plan safe opportunities for exercise, relaxation, fun and social interaction to help improve mental health.
People can visit www.findcare.tt for a list of reliable sources for free help or visit the Ministry of Health’s website.
