COVID-19 mental health effects persist - expert

Thursday marked five years since the country was placed under a national state of disaster, and a level 5 hard lockdown was imposed to control the spread of COVID-19.  

Hundreds of thousands of people lost their lives between 2020 and 2022.

Caley Wood, a senior counsellor at the SA Depression and Anxiety Group, said many are still struggling with the long-term effects of the pandemic.

"We are still seeing lingering anxiety, health-related fears, social disconnect. There are also people who are continuing to struggle with burnout, particularly in high-stress professions," said Wood.

"A global study actually found that the prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by 25% during the pandemic."

 READ: SA marks 5 years since COVID lockdown

She said navigating social life after the lockdown has been brutal for some.

"Being cut off from regular social interactions for such a long time has led to increased rates of depression and anxiety and even cognitive decline for some.

"So, isolation can reshape neural pathways which affect how individuals perceive and interact with the world."

Wood added that those struggling to process the trauma of losing their loved ones can get help.

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"So, brain-based therapies are really effective in terms of coping and dealing with almost like pandemic-related traumas. So, brain-based therapies like brain spotting, BWRTEMDR, they're effective in processing that trauma," she added.

"So, cognitive behaviour therapy helps individuals reframe negative thought patterns. As well as dialectical behaviour therapy, DBT, which is useful for managing emotional distress."

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