Stress, Anxiety Triggers and Mental Health Care Needs Among General Public Under Lockdown During COVID-19 Pandemic: a Cross-Sectional Study in India

Abstract

The outbreak of novel corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic possesses the potential to arise an unprecedented growth of mental health care needs among the general population. The present study aims to understand the knowledge of possible symptoms, stress and anxiety triggers and mental health care needs related to COVID-19 pandemic among the general population of India. A web-based cross-sectional survey was conducted across India. In order to conduct the survey, an online survey tool (semi-structured questionnaire) was prepared using google forms. Apart from having an informed consent, the survey tool comprised 42-item questions addressing the background characters of the participants and the pertinent issues related to the study. Snowball sampling technique was adopted in the study, and the questionnaire was sent to the contacts of the surveyors. All the participants were further requested to forward the tool in their respective contacts. A total 284 respondents were covered under the survey. More than 50% of participants reported having some professional loss in the current pandemic lockdown phase and 74% of the respondents reported having stress about their business or employment in the coming times. Majority (77%) of respondents agreed on the importance of professional mental help but 40% reported not likely to take professional help if they experience extreme stress and anxiety due to COVID-19. The educated people realise the significance of mental health care needs but majority of them decline to take a professional help even after realising the extreme anxiety. It is imperative for the government to amplify the awareness programmes addressing the mental health care needs and its importance during the COVID-19 pandemic.