Long-Term Mental Health Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic

By Sanjana PB

​The COVID-19 pandemic, which began in late 2019, disrupted our lives as we knew it, leaving a lasting impact, not only on global health systems, but also on individual mental health and well-being. There was a massive shift in the working of the world to cope with the atrocities brought about by the pandemic which took an undeniable toll on the general public’s mental health. While the virus’s implications on the physical health of individuals and communities have been studied and looked into extensively, the effects on their mental health continue to unfold revealing long-term challenges. 

​The acute effects of COVID-19 were always known to be devastating and life-threatening, affecting a wide range of organ systems. Reports of effects on the brain include inflammation which has been linked with cognitive deficits and psychiatric manifestations.

​The long-term consequences of the COVID infection include long-lasting sequelae termed post-COVID syndrome (PCS) among other terms. The PCS encompasses a wide range of somatic symptoms. Frequent symptoms are fatigue, cough, headache, limb pain, myalgias, loss of taste and smell, and shortness of breath. Researchers have found a positive association between chemosensory abnormalities and neuropsychiatric and cognitive impairment in PCS patients. 

​Cognitive impairment has become an overwhelming concern, especially among children and adolescents who report a noticeable decline in academic performance, reasoning ability, and concentration. Memory issues have also become prevalent amongst the same subset of the population who got the virus and developed more severe symptoms of COVID-19 and survived, which adversely impacted their cognitive function and daily activities.  

​Additionally, factors such as prolonged isolation due to lockdown, economic uncertainty due to a reduction in employment all over the world, fear of infection, and grief associated with losing a loved one to the disease have contributed to a rapid increase in the prevalence of mental health disorders such as chronic anxiety, depression, insomnia, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These factors have also been seen to have exacerbated pre-existing conditions in individuals who were already suffering from these disorders in the pre-COVID period. This instance highlights the importance of biological studies to demonstrate current gaps in knowledge to identify biomarkers of stress-related impairments. 

​These disorders have also manifested evidently and primarily among frontline workers such as healthcare providers and other essential workers who were constantly exposed to illnesses and unsafe conditions, children and adolescents whose social development and educational progress were hindered leading them to show signs of social withdrawal and isolation, the elderly who faced heightened risks of severe illness, and marginalized communities whose pre-existing health disparities and social inequities led to bigger turmoils in their lives during this period. 

​Another issue that has taken precedence in the post-COVID period is a rise in substance abuse. With many using alcohol and drugs to cope with the stress of the pandemic and related mental health disorders, long-term dependency issues have been widely reported among a majority of these people. On the other hand, a lot of people have been seen to have resorted to self-harm to manage the hefty load of pressure exerted by the pandemic. On the same note, numerous people have also reported an increase in suicidal thoughts and tendencies due to an enormous burden placed on them all of a sudden. 

​A large number of people were separated from their families in the quarantine and had to either suffer from the infection themselves or watch a loved one suffer from the disease. These people have had to go through one of the hardest phases of their lives with little to no support from their families or peers, in complete isolation. This further triggers a feeling of loneliness and uncertainty leading to poor mental health.

​One needs to seek help if any of the above disorders or adverse mental health effects resonate with one’s personal experience. Talking to a psychologist or a therapist and getting an accurate medical diagnosis would help in taking steps to better one’s mental health accordingly.

​Other simple steps that can be taken to help improve mental health would be to get an adequate amount of sleep while maintaining a good biological clock, exercise regularly so the body can release endorphins that can improve mood, eat healthy by maintaining a balanced diet, keep away from tobacco, alcohol, and drugs, and avoid unhealthy coping habits such as self-harm or substance use that would give you instantaneous gratification but would worsen your physical and mental health in the long run. Making sure to relax and recharge one’s body and mind by practicing mindfulness, spending time on recreational activities, associating with trusted persons (family, friends, etc), and building meaningful connections can enhance mental well-being and provide a sense of belonging. These are some of the low-cost and effective measures to inhibit the negative outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic.

​Furthermore, the government can take certain initiatives to identify all the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and take necessary steps to rectify the situation as much as possible. To improve the current situation, preventive measures such as vaccination of the entire population and stimulating people to engage in a physically active lifestyle can be taken. 

​The COVID-19 pandemic created a perfect storm and turned our world upside down. Countless changes had to be accommodated into people’s lives to try and combat the pandemic collectively. Numerous lives were lost, and numerous other people suffered the loss of their quality of life. We’re gradually leaving the pandemic behind and taking control of our lives again. There is no doubt that this is going to be a difficult process, but with time, it is definitely possible to reclaim it all back from the virus. It’s important to stay resilient in times of hardship and seek help when required. So, if you’re struggling with your mental health in the post-COVID period, know that you’re not alone and that the situation will get better with time and help.

Works Cited

Adorjan, Kristina, and Hans Christian Stubbe. “Insight Into the Long-term Psychological Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic.” European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, vol. 273, no. 2, Mar. 2023, pp. 287–88. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-023-01599-6.

Boldrini, Maura, et al. “How COVID-19 Affects the Brain.” JAMA Psychiatry, vol. 78, no. 6, Mar. 2021, p. 682. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2021.0500.

Bourmistrova, Nicole Wallbridge, et al. “Long-term Effects of COVID-19 on Mental Health: A Systematic Review.” Journal of Affective Disorders, vol. 299, Nov. 2021, pp. 118–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.11.031.

“COVID-19: How to Manage Your Mental Health During the Pandemic.” Mayo Clinic, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/mental-health-covid-19/art-20482731. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.

Damiano, Rodolfo Furlan, et al. “Association Between Chemosensory Impairment With Neuropsychiatric Morbidity in Post-acute COVID-19 Syndrome: Results From a Multidisciplinary Cohort Study.” European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, vol. 273, no. 2, May 2022, pp. 325–33. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-022-01427-3.

Roever, Leonardo, et al. “Long-term Consequences of COVID-19 on Mental Health and the Impact of a Physically Active Lifestyle: A Narrative Review.” Annals of General Psychiatry, vol. 22, no. 1, May 2023, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-023-00448-z.
World Health Organization: WHO. “COVID-19 pandemic triggers 25% increase in prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide.” World Health Organization (WHO), 2 Mar. 2022, www.who.int/news/item/02-03-2022-covid-19-pandemic-triggers-25-increase-in-prevalence-of-anxiety-and-depression-worldwide.