Stress as a consequence of the Sars-CoV-2 virus pandemic

U proteklih nekoliko godina svakodnevni život te posljedično i svakodnevna razina stresa uvelike su se promijenili ponajviše zbog pandemije bolesti COVID-19. S pandemijom i mjerama koje su donesene kao odgovor na istu uslijedila su i socijalna ograničenja, izolacija, usamljenost, zatvaranje obrazovnih ustanova, poduzeća, mjesta za okupljanje, gubitak radnih mjesta te strah od zaraze i smrti, bilo vlastite ili bliske osobe. Značaj utjecaja trenutne pandemije na mentalno zdravlje prepoznat je i od strane Svjetske zdravstvene organizacije koja je objavila da je došlo do bitnog povećanja teškoća povezanih uz mentalno zdravlje u općoj populaciji te da je pandemija bila okidač za 25 postotno povećanje prevalencije tjeskobe i depresije u svijetu. Razni aspekti i posljedice pandemije SARS-CoV-2 virusa koji mijenjaju svakodnevicu predstavljaju izvor stresa u populaciji te negativno utječu na mentalno zdravlje brojnih skupina u društvu. Socijalna izolacija posebno je bitan čimbenik u djece, adolescenata i studenata kod kojih je pronađeno da su osjećali psihološki distres tijekom trenutne pandemije uz depresiju, anksioznost te zabrinutost. Od početka pandemije koronavirusa došlo je do porasta prevalencije anksioznosti, depresije i insomnije u zdravstvenih radnika koji su također iskusili somatske simptome i psihološki distres. Za vrijeme pandemije milijuni su ljudi izgubili radna mjesta, a financijski problemi tijekom prve faze pandemije povezani su s nepovoljnim ishodima u pogledu mentalnog zdravlja. Radnici esencijalnih zanimanja podliježu visokom psihološkom opterećenju pandemije te su izvijestili da su imali više suicidalnih misli te su ostvarili više bodova na ispunjenim bodovnim skalama o stresu vezanom uz COVID-19 od onih koji nisu esencijalni radnici. Osobe starije od šezdeset godina fizički su i mentalno ranjivije od drugih dobnih skupina. Rezultati studije provedene u domovima za starije osobe ukazuju na to da mjere socijalnog distanciranja dovode do socijalne izolacije umirovljenika te uzrokuju razvoj stresa, tjeskobe te strah u stanara domova i njihovih obitelji.Everyday life and the level of stress connected with it on a day-to-day basis has changed significantly in the last few years, mostly because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic itself and measures taken as a response to it, have resulted in social restriction, isolation, loneliness, closing of educational institutions, companies, places of gathering, job loss and fear of infection and death of oneself or someone close to them. The World Health Organization recognized the importance of impact the current pandemic has on mental health mentioning that there has been a significant increase of mental health conditions in the general population and that the pandemic triggered a 25 percent increase in the prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide. Multiple aspects and consequences of the SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic, which change the everyday life, represent a source of stress in the population and negatively impact the mental health of many groups within the society. Social isolation is an especially important factor for children, adolescents, and students. It has been found that they have felt psychological distress during the current pandemic along with depression, anxiety, and worry. There has been an increase in prevalence of anxiety, depression and insomnia in healthcare workers since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. They have also experienced somatic symptoms and psychological distress. Millions of people have lost their jobs during the pandemic and financial problems during the first phase of the pandemic are associated with adverse outcomes regarding mental health. Essential workers carry a high psychological burden from the pandemic and have reported having more suicidal ideations. They have scored higher on COVID stress scales than those who were not essential workers. People who are older than sixty represent a physically and mentally more vulnerable group than other age groups. The results of a study carried out in nursing homes show that social distancing measures lead to the social isolation of nursing home residents and cause them and their families stress, anxiety and fear