The health Department of the Lipetsk region held a briefing on the topic: "How to maintain mental health during the coronavirus epidemic"?

On December 08, 2021, a briefing on "Mental health during COVID-19" was held at the Health Department of the Lipetsk region.

O.V. Fateeva, Deputy Head of the Health Department of the Lipetsk Region, as well as T.S. Doronina, head of the psychiatric department of the Lipetsk Regional Neuropsychiatric Hospital, and L.V. Danilova, psychologist of the neurosis Department of the Lipetsk Regional Neuropsychiatric Hospital, told regional media about the impact of coronavirus on mental health.

During the briefing, the doctors touched upon the following topical issues:

• what consequences can the disease have for the psyche and intelligence?
• how has the pandemic affected the mental state (doctors' experience)?
• is there a certain nervousness and instability now?
• where do the conspiracy theories around the disease and vaccination come from?
• why do people believe fakes about coronavirus?
• how to keep a clear head and not give in to panic in such times?
• vaccination - why are people afraid to get vaccinated, but not afraid to get sick?
• why are extreme comparisons of a completely innocent process - the use of quarcodes - with "devil's marks", "Nazi branding" so popular?

According to Fateeva O.V., coronavirus affects the work of all body systems, especially the cardiovascular system. Blood clots form in the vessels of the brain, the heart muscle suffers.

The delta strain also has a detrimental effect on the nervous system. Those who have been ill may have anxiety, a sense of fear, fear of death. Lack of oxygen can be a trigger for post-ovoid syndrome. Doctors note that about 40% of those who have had a coronavirus infection seek psychological help.

"Postcovid syndrome can last from 6 to 12 months. The risk group is the elderly, as the plasticity of the brain decreases with age. But it happens that young people cannot recover for a long time, depression appears. Psychiatrists interpret this condition as a post-traumatic stress disorder, and it can only be cured by medication," said T.S. Doronina, head of the psychiatric department of the Lipetsk Regional Neuropsychiatric Hospital.

The department for the treatment of patients with post-coronavirus syndrome and mental illnesses appeared in the Lipetsk Regional Neuropsychiatric Hospital in 2019. Currently, seven patients are being treated there. These are residents of the region whose coronavirus has provoked an exacerbation of mental illness.

In addition, there is a 24-hour hotline for psychological assistance in the region. 8 (800) 350-4811. Here everyone can get qualified advice from psychologists and psychiatrists of the Regional Neuropsychiatric Hospital.