Mental Health Consequences of COVID-19: Implication for Counseling

This paper examines the rise in mental illness caused by the Coronavirus disease, and discusses measures, in terms of counseling necessary to mitigate the psychological trauma in its aftermath. The emergence of the novel Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19)and the measures such as lockdown, isolation, hand-washing, mask wearing, social/physical distancing, aim to curb its continuous spread and infection, has led to rise in mental illnesses among the populace. Reports show that most countries, including those having advanced health care facilities or structures, continue to grapple with the increasing challenge posed by the Coronavirus pandemic, especially its mental health complications. The paper uses secondary and documentary data, including, journal articles, agency reports and working papers and social media posts, to understand the rise in mental health illness during the COVID-19 pandemic and its implication for counselling. Findings reveal that COVID-19 has exacerbated old mental health challenges and thrown up new ones across different age groups and socio-economic classes, and left many in need of psychological support in terms of counseling interventions to help them cope with or regain their physical and mental wellbeing. It concludes that people with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) caused by COVID-19 need counseling which should be provided by trained and certified counseling psychologists or therapists.