Open Access

ARTICLE

Psychological and Emotional Responses during Different Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic Based on a Survey of a Mental Health Hotline

Shuna Peng¹, Xiaohong Luo¹, Shiyu Liang¹, Fengning Deng¹, Yuning Liu², Hong Zeng^1,*, Xuesong Yang^3,*

1 Department of Psychology, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
2Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
3 Division of Histology and Embryology, Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Medical College, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China

* Corresponding Authors: Hong Zeng. Email: ; Xuesong Yang. Email:

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion 2022, 24(5), 711-724. https://doi.org/10.32604/ijmhp.2022.020556

Received 07 December 2021; Accepted 28 January 2022; Issue published 27 July 2022

Abstract

Background: The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in 2019 triggered psychological and emotional responses. This research investigates the psychological status and emotional problems of those who sought psychological assistance during the epidemic period by calling a mental health hotline. Methods: This study aims to combine qualitative and quantitative research. Descriptive analysis was used for undertaking qualitative research. We analyzed the data from group 1 (n = 706), in which the people used the mental health hotline from 25 January 2020 to 23 June 2020. A self-designed questionnaire was developed in accordance with the classification and summarized items from group 1’s psychological problems and emotional status. To implement the quantitative research, we conducted a cross-sectional descriptive survey and used the self-compiled scale and HADS to investigate group 2 (n = 553) from May 2020 to June 2020. Results: Descriptive statistics and comparative analysis revealed that: ① Visitors mainly reported behavior, emotional, family relationship problems and sleep disorders. ② Anxiety, comorbidities, sleep disorders and coping problems were the most frequently reported problems. ③ There were significant differences in the number of visitors experiencing various problems or exhibiting harmful behaviors (sorrow, worry, fear, depression, sleep disorders, self-harm or suicide, and coping problems, anxiety, hypochondria, and comorbidity) in the four stages of the epidemic. ④ More than a quarter of participants still suffered from anxiety or depression in the later stages of the epidemic. Conclusion: Different problems manifested at different stages of the epidemic, and psychological interventions and assistance should be tailored to reflect this.

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Keywords

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