User:Nseddiq/Mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic

Mental health aftercare
Telehealth visits increased by 154% in the final week of March 2020, which is also when the pandemic resulted in many policy changes involving seeking medical care. The benefits of telehealth include accessibility, increased safety due to less in-person contact, and reducing the use of scarce personal protective equipment. The role of telehealth in lowering fatality rates and preventing increased presence in high-risk areas such as hospitals was generally significant.

Asian Americans
Hate crimes targeted towards Asians rose nearly 150% across major U.S. cities from 2019 to 2020. As the pandemic progressed, about 40% of Asian and Black Americans reported feeling people act uncomfortable around them. The harassment against those of Asian descent ranges in its forms; these include both verbal and physical attacks, and even acts of vandalism. Some attest the increase in attack rates to the negative expressions used by President Donald Trump, an example of this being when he referred to the COVID-19 virus as "kung flu." Asian Americans disproportionately hold positions as high-risk essential workers, and many regions heavily affected by COVID-19 have an abundance of Asian-owned businesses. Suggestions for aiding in the support of Asian Americans throughout this time include ensuring Asian inclusion in businesses, preventing the use of Anti-Asian rhetoric, and encouraging a dialogue that accounts for the acknowledgement of Asian American treatment and support throughout this time.

Long-term consequences
Once recovered from COVID-19, many will continue to experience long-term effects of the virus. Of these effects may include a lost or lessened sense of taste and smell, which is a result of the virus affecting cells in the nose. While this symptom is not fatal, an absence of these senses for a prolonged amount of time can cause lack of appetite, anxiety, and depression. Those admitted to the ICU while battling their direct infection of the COVID-19 virus experience mental health consequences as a result of this stay, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression.

Added references for information provided under "Spain":

Spain
Spain's outbreak started at the end of February. On March 14, 2020, the Spanish Government declared the state of alarm to limit viral transmission.