Virtual groups launched to pep up depressed Covid patients

Sumedha Sharma

Tribune News Service

Gurugram, July 2

Struggling with Covid blues, over 900 patients isolated in Gurugram have been detected with clinical depression and anxiety.

Health teams keeping a regular tab on these patients have raised an alarm over the despair levels of not only the patients, but also their families as they are house-isolated.

Taking note of it, the local administration has started virtual communication groups on the lines of various socio-anonymous groups to let the patients connect with one another and a trained psychologist to help them fight the emotional and psychological effects of the disease.

“The patients may not have much physical trouble but confess to be scared. They put a brave face for the family and vice versa but they don’t discuss the despair which takes a toll on mental health. This is serious issue and hence, we have started a daily virtual communication group. It is a group of around 50 patients who are going through a similar situation and they talk about it. The psychologist and psychiatrist are the coordinators who moderate the communication and observe the patients,” said DC Amit Khatri. The families of patients too have been provided their own groups.

The local administration has also provided psychiatric and psychological help to some patients who had reported suicidal thoughts. Meanwhile, the Covid-positive patients who have defeated the virus have been urged to share their experiences to motivate the current patients. They have been asked to upload videos about their experience.