Men seek psychological help more than women during pandemic

From recorded data on the free line for psychological assistance in Kosovo (038-20-80-890), over 52 percent of those who called on this line were men.

Psychologists who have worked on this line since April 22nd say that the number of men is higher because the problems men have are far less discussed in the family environment.

Njmza Halimi and Florina Quevai are two psychologists from Pristina who have helped hundreds through the line of free psychological aid.

Since the first day of its opening, 1,278 cases have been recorded when citizens of different ages have sought psychological help, mainly because of the anxiety, stress, and emotional and family problems that have passed since the appearance of pandemic.

Fear of Contagion or Family Loss

Psychologist Njomza Halimi says citizens have sought help because of the crises and the financial and family problems that have been through since the pandemic show.

Fifty to 40 percent of the calls have been linked to COVID. The rest of the problems have been what COVID-19 (the disease caused by the Coronavirus) has brought to the fore every family. The main has been the socioeconomic situation”, Halimi says of Radio Free Europe.

Halimi says citizens who have called for help have shown signs of uncertainty and fear that they can be infected or lost family members from infection with the new coronary.

“are starting to talk from anxiety, depression, the idea of having an attack. Are you getting me something? What Does My Children Find? Then there were family members with COVIED-19 who have caused a major crisis among individuals on how to help the infected. How Can They Feed the Family? How do they create security?

Psychologist Florina Quewei says that a number of citizens have called in serious emotional condition, and all they could do is show them techniques to overcome their current situation.

The help that we most have given people has been the light techniques we could give through the phone and we explain to you the best way they can practice, so they can get past the emotional state in which they've been”, says Quipea.

Pandemia Limited Mental Health Services

The number of citizens who have sought psychological assistance through the free line has been higher because each phone call is made under condition of anonymity.

Qupewe psychologists say that the fact that everything has been anonymous, including the phone number, has made them feel cheaper to talk about their problems.

“They still keep calling, which means it has been extremely helpful to you that the psychological help they have received or only that they are heard and have been able to express themselves without any framework or prejudice”, Halimi says.

The time Kosovo was in isolation has influenced health services to be limited.

Citizens who needed to seek psychological help have been unable because these services have not been offered in isolation, while many private clinics have been closed during the pandemic.

Psychologist Florina Quweive shows that there have been times when citizens have asked whether it is normal for a person to visit a psychologist and whether there are many citizens seeking psychological help.

The hardest thing we've ever faced was to lower the stigma. Why? Because people haven't figured out that going to a psychologist is quite normal”, says Quewei.

Free psychological aid line still active.

Studies confirm growing problems during pandemic

Many countries of the world reported that pandemic has contributed to increased mental health problems.

These problems have especially increased during the time when governments limited citizens ' movements because of the risk of spreading COVIDD-19.

A study conducted in Australia with 5,000 adult people highlighted the fact that from March to April, the pandemic has had a major impact, in particular on sensitive categories.

Some 80 percent of those who responded to the questionnaire admitted that their mental health deteriorated since the outbreak of the pandemic, 25 percent of those interviewed are told that they are extremely concerned about the possibility of coronary infection, while 52 percent express fear of the possibility of infecting their family and friends.

Study of the science magazine public “PLOS One” that is of nature and medicine.

O BSH urges increased mental health budget

The World Health Organization (OBSH) has asked states to spend more of their health budgets on mental health.

On August 31st, WHO published the results of a research into the impact of pandemic on health systems in 105 countries around the world.

“From data from five regions for the March-June 2020 period, evidence is that almost every state (90 percent) has experienced disruptions of their health services, the most affected have been low-income and medium-income states”, reportedly in the findings of this WHO research.

According to research results, mental - health health services have been the most vulnerable since the beginning of the pandemic, since isolation has resulted in many people unable to receive mental - health treatments.

World Health Organisation General Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebresus said failure of health systems during pandemic should serve as a turning point for citizens to improve health care.