Recent reports of alleged suicide and cases of violence against women and children may be due to many factors, and being locked down, as a form of health and safety precaution, is only one of these factors.
Dr. Gwendolyn Cayad, a psychiatry consultant at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, said records of patients who consulted with them do not show that the lockdown had something to do with such behavior, but globally, it is known that because of the stress that comes with the pandemic, suicidal tendencies are expected.
Cayad said the hospital has been doing tele-consultations since April but due to limitations, it may not reflect the real situation.
“On being locked down, nobody really complained about it but it’s a given. It is always a stressor to almost all patients who have consulted with us. We’re pretty sure there is an increase in anxiety and depression,” Cayad said during a virtual press conference June 23 with Department of Health-Cordillera and BGHMC officials.
She said suicide is not a simple behavior but is actually a symptom of mental disorder.
“There can be a lot of factors, but number one is the limitation of movement because of environmental restriction. But we cannot say that a person committed suicide because of being locked down, because so many people are locked down but they have not committed suicide,” she said.
Cayad added the social and environmental aspect comes into play and most probably it has already been happening in the past.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, children were going to school and parents were going out to work and as such, there was more interaction with the outside world. Now that people are cooped up in their houses, there is that opportunity for the perpetrators to do those things.
With regards to violence against women where it is being surmised to be also caused by restrictions in mobility of people, Cayad said it does not necessarily mean that perpetrators have a mental disorder.
She said BGHMC will conduct a study on the psychosocial effects of the Covid-19 to people.
“We cannot do anything about the environmental situation because it is first and foremost for our health and safety. So, we advise for vigilance. If we are aware of such instances, (we must) inform the authorities right away,” she said.
Cayad also has advice in taking care of one’s mental health during these times: “Uncertainty is the fuel at the moment that increases the fire of stress so our advice is for us all to focus on things that we can control. We have to maintain a semblance of normalcy in our daily routine. We have to refill our fuels like doing hobbies and physical exercise in order to lessen stress. Despite being physically disconnected, we can still maintain social connection through social media, (though) we also have to avoid being overwhelmed about what we read and watch in social media.” – Hanna C. Lacsamana
