“Corona and quarantine conditions increased mental illness rate over the country,” said Vahidnia on Radio Goftogoo.
According to Radio Goftogoo news site; Dr. Behzad Vahidnia, appeared on "Social Dialogue" program and announced that the mourning caused by the Corona crisis on the one hand, and the unharnessed economic costs and the increase of violence and conflicts, on the other hand, have led to a jump of social harm.
He noted that the social ills caused by Covid-19 also affect jobs, human functioning and people’s sense of self-sufficiency; “During Corona crisis, the role and disorder set of by intense stress can be felt more than ever, and we should focus on stress-reducing factors.”
Vahidnia added; “Ensuring access to timely and adequate treatment services as well as providing corona vaccine can reduce people's stress.”
“Surveys indicate that over the first six months of Corona virus prevalence, stress, anxiety and depression increased by 9 to 11 percent, which has now reached 16 percent,” he said.
The Director General of Psychology and Counseling of the Social Services Organization mentioned; “This organization provided counseling services in person, by telephone and through public movements during Corona crisis, and provided 2.2 million phone counseling services.”
“The demand for phone counseling has increased 8 to 10 times” Continued Vahidnia.
Regarding the increase in mental illnesses in the country, Vahidnia noted; “Such an increase is not peculiar to our country, but indicators related to community mental health have changed all around the world, however, the amount of stress people experience may be more or less in terms of capacities, social support and intervention programs that countries offer”.
He emphasized; “Out of 106 countries affected by Covid-19, only 10% were willing to increase their mental health budgets, and the average increase was only two percent.”
Vahidnia also stressed the need to extend resources in the field of mental health; “Although the Social Services Organization mobilized specialists in this field and used all the capacities, but more detailed planning is needed for this volume of demand, and sufficient resources should be provided by the government or parliament to support the social services offered to those who are in need of them.”
He reminded; “Social Services Organization contributed its share in this field by providing social support to the covered community, improving health indicators and health standards in care centers, social emergencies, and its own psychological evaluation system.”
The Director General of Psychology and Counseling of the Social Services Organization introduced the strengthening of our country's health services along with ensuring public access to such services, financial support for affected professions and jobs, and media education as ways to reduce mental disorders in society.
