How Has The Pandemic Affected Mental Health Now that It’s “Over”

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus classified the pandemic as a mass trauma, a term generally reserved for tragedies such as natural disasters or wars. Yet the collective experience of Covid-19 inflicted wounds on society that the Director-General believes exceed even those caused by World War Two. His March 5, 2021 declaration feels more relevant than ever, now in 2022, as we deal with the enduring effects of the pandemic. Director-General Ghebreyesus wasn’t making this claim for the shock factor. Upwards of 70 million soldiers fought in World War Two. Yet, an estimated 7.76 billion people were suffering through their personal battles when COVID struck –– taking the lives of loved ones, rattling the economy, and devastating traditional societal norms. Impacts that had profound effects on the population, and still do, despite the pandemic being “over.” “Victory in Europe Day” was declared on May 8, 1945, signaling the end of World War Two and an optimistic return to normalcy. President Biden’s attempts to dedicate July 4, 2021, as “Independence from COVID Day” never came to fruition. A sad reminder that “the bloodiest war in history” was awarded a more definitive end than the pandemic. Though fittingly so. Our collective experiences during the height of the pandemic have left lasting mental scars that won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. In fact, many of the
initiatives to transition back to “normality” have the unintended consequence of reopening those wounds. So if you find yourself worried or anxious about navigating a “post-pandemic” world, your feelings aren’t invalid – and you aren’t alone.

By Nicole LaMarco  May 17, 2022