Impact of COVID-19 on the parents or caretakers of patients with chronic psychiatric illness

Abstract

Background: The World Health Organization declared it a public health emergency on January 30, 2020, and on March 12, 2020, it declared that COVID-19 had become a pandemic due to the spread of the virus to several nations. Furthermore, interruption of treatment of patients with chronic psychiatric illness would be dangerous or fatal. All this may put the parents/caregivers in further stress. According to experts, the COVID-19 pandemic was an instance of traumatic stress and was likely to worsen current mental health issues and cause the emergence of new disorders in others for an extended period of time. Aims and Objectives: The objective of this study is to determine the impact of COVID on the parents or the caregivers of the patients with chronic psychiatric illness. Materials and Methods: An offline questionnaire was created and dictated to the parents/caretakers in their vernacular language. Data collection was done from July 2022 to September 2022. Results: Out of many, a particular concern is the lack of physical consultations and the unavailability of medications for their patients. Many caregivers’ stress levels became worse due to a lack of awareness and use of telemedicine services, which may have been prevented. Due to the lockdown and the issues mentioned above, the caregivers’ physical and mental health was also impacted. Caregivers experienced higher financial stress and suicidal thoughts than the normal population. Caregiver challenges were also linked to several demographic characteristics such as nuclear or joint family and urban dwellings. Conclusion: Improved access to health care for patients with chronic illnesses in these situations, proper guidance to caregivers regarding patient care, adequate knowledge, usage, and awareness of telemedicine among caregivers, an emphasis on ways of combating suicidal thoughts among patients and caregivers, financial assistance whenever possible, and special guidelines for caregivers’ mental and physical health as well may all help decrease the strain associated with caregiving. Ultimately, by these implementations, patients with chronic illnesses can receive better care and treatment during future outbreaks.