According to the preliminary findings of the mental health study conducted by the Agha Khan University, nearly one in three are also experiencing moderate or severe anxiety.
The research was conducted by the university's department of community health sciences (CHS) by carrying out an online survey of 373 respondents between April and May.
The study’s first phase used validated screening tools to determine if people had generalised anxiety disorder. More than 90% of the participants were from Sindh and Punjab in the research.
"Respondents ranked the top three causes of anxiety and stress as being fear of contracting the virus, financial losses during the pandemic and losing a loved one to COVID-19," said the statement.
The study found that survey participants were much more concerned about their loved ones catching the disease with nearly eight out of ten respondents, or 76%, feeling a lot of fear or extreme fear of those close to them falling ill. In contrast, four of ten respondents, or 36%, reported a lot of fear or extreme fear about catching the virus themselves.
“The pandemic has exposed our social and economic vulnerabilities and created widespread uncertainty in society,” said Professor Sameen Siddiqi, the CHS department chair. “If left unchecked, stress associated with COVID-19 can lead to distress and the distress can lead to disease.”
Those already suffering from anxiety and stress are especially vulnerable to advanced illnesses such as depression and other mental health disorders, added Maryam Lakhdir, the study’s principal investigator and a senior instructor in the CHS department.
“The findings suggest that we are at risk of a mental health crisis during a pandemic. Policymakers must prioritise psychosocial interventions to limit the chances of long-lasting scars on our mental health,” Lakhdir said.
The study also found a high correlation between exposure to rumours via WhatsApp and anxiety or stress, since more than eight out of ten respondents suffering from the two conditions were using this social media platform. Respondents who reported frequently checking the news also had more anxiety and stress.
“Misinformation, conspiracy theories, and rumour mongering are likely to lead to mental health issues during the pandemic,” said Dr Romaina Iqbal, the lead of CHS’s non-communicable diseases and mental health section.
The study will continue to enroll participants until the end of August and findings will continue to be released to monitor changes in the population’s mental health.
Dr Iqbal Azam from AKU’s department of community health sciences, Apsara Ali, a research specialist from AKU’s department of paediatrics and child health, and graduate students in epidemiology and biostatistics, Drs Ghazal Peerwani and Hareem Fatima, were also involved in the study.
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