By Gabriela Baron
The underprivileged are most likely to suffer from mental illness as they have less access to resources, especially during natural calamities, according to a study funded by the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP).
Dr. Meredith Labarda, NRCP Member of the Division of Medical Sciences, noted that based on her study, there were high cases of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and stress among urban poor adults in Tacloban City.
Labarda added that “there was an increase in levels of unhealthy lifestyle behaviors and lower sense of well-being among the respondents.”
She, however, mentioned that the impact of natural disasters on mental health is well-studied, but there is “little to no existing literature on the long-term mental effects of prolonged disasters such as a pandemic.”
The risk factors for mental health problems during a pandemic were an individual’s hospitalization history, the remote location of residence, unemployment, lifestyle stressors, increased alcohol consumption, and lesser education, the study enumerated.
The study also recommended that healthier food should be given to residents during relief activities as non-nutritious food will also affect their mental health. – bny
