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The Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health in America: A Toulmin Model Argument

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The Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health in America: A Toulmin Model Argument

Introduction

The COVID-19 outbreak that began in late 2019 has led to severe health crises and

changes in social relations and the economy on a global scale. These changes have affected

mental health in America and have resulted in anxiety, depression, and other related issues. The

issues of substance abuse, domestic violence, depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues

have been worsened by social isolation, economic difficulties, and the fear of the virus. Thus, the

pandemic negatively impacted mental health, despite some people noting no change or even

improvement. Thus, to solve this crisis, people need immediate help and further support to

prevent the constant impact of COVID-19 on mental health.

Background

The situation that occurred during the pandemic included strict lockdowns, social

isolation, and economic instability that can trigger mental health issues. The abrupt and long-

term alteration of the daily schedule has caused higher rates of anxiety, depression, and other

related disorders. As stated by Pfefferbaum and North (2020), the pandemic is associated with

several mental health issues because of the fear and uncertainty of the disease, as well as

enforced isolation. Holmes et al. (2020) also stress the need for mental health science to address

these challenges because the pandemic has led to the emergence of a rather complicated context

favorable to mental health issues.

Evidence/Grounds: Minor Causes/Effects

Remote Work: The change in the work environment has been stressful due to the

difficulty of balancing work and personal life since the outbreak of COVID 19. It has become
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very hard for people to differentiate between their workplace and home, causing burnout and

increased stress. According to the study by Xiong et al. (2020), the new stressors of working

remotely, especially when one has to be a caregiver, have led to anxiety and stress. Such a

disruption in the work-life balance is one of the minor but important impacts of the pandemic on

mental health.

Disrupted Routines: The psychological effects of alterations in routine have been felt in

the health of people. The COVID restrictions affected the daily schedules of individuals, which

created a feeling of vulnerability and helplessness, both of which are roots of mental health

problems. Kontoangelos, Economou, and Papageorgiou (2020) explain that disruption of the

regular daily schedule has been associated with the rise of stress and anxiety. People who had

rigid schedules and expected order suddenly were placed in a state of confusion, which only

worsened their state of mind.

Evidence/Grounds: Major Causes/Effects

Social Isolation: Measures such as lockdowns and social distancing have been the root

causes of loneliness and a higher prevalence of depression. Holmes et al. (2020) pointed out that

“social isolation and loneliness due to quarantine and social distancing have caused a significant

rise in depressive symptoms and other mental health problems.” This quote clearly shows how

social interaction is key to maintaining good mental health and how the absence of it worsens the

situation during the pandemic.

Economic Stress: The economic losses due to the pandemic have led to the emergence of

a lot of financial insecurities in people and thus increased stress levels. Financial pressure

because of the economic crisis has been defined by Kontoangelos, Economou, and Papageorgiou
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(2020) as the stressor that has led to increased levels of anxiety and depression during the

pandemic.

Mental Health Crisis: Literature reviews have also noted that there have been concerns

raised as to how the pandemic has worsened existing mental health problems and created new

ones. According to Pfefferbaum and North (2020), the COVID-19 pandemic has elicited fear and

concern over the risk of getting infected or the risk of the pandemic’s long-term effects on

society.

Summary of the Pandemic's Mental Health Impacts: Vindegaard and Benros (2020),

in their review of the mental health effects of the pandemic, observe that “the COVID-19

pandemic has been linked to a higher incidence of anxiety, depression, and other forms of stress-

related disorders.” This overview gives general information about the various aspects of mental

health that have been affected by the pandemic.

Analysis/Backing

The examples given help to prove the hypothesis that the COVID-19 pandemic has

affected mental health in America. Thus, the rates of depression and anxiety resulting from social

isolation, financial issues, and the general threat of the virus show that this mental health issue is

complex. Holmes et al. (2020) and Kontoangelos, Economou, and Papageorgiou (2020) give

illustrations of how these stressors have resulted in poor mental health. In addition, analysis of

various sources of information, including the reviews of professionals like Pfefferbaum & North

(2020) and Vindegaard & Benros (2020), makes it possible to state the global and profound

effects of the pandemic on mental health.

Qualifier
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As much as the COVID-19 pandemic affected the mental health of people negatively, it is

essential to note that not all people were negatively affected. On the positive side, some people

thought that they were able to gain more time with the family and the chance to develop

themselves. Remote work became possible, which enabled people to see their families more

often, strengthen family relationships, and focus on what is important in life. Holmes et al.

(2020) explain that some people experienced comfort in such changes, which decreased stress

and anxiety. Also, the deceleration of daily activities and the decrease in time spent on

commuting gave people more time to take care of themselves and their interests.

According to Pierce et al. (2020), some positive aspects of the pandemic mentioned by

participants were that the pandemic has made some segments of the population lead a more

balanced life and has positively affected their well-being. These accounts show that the

pandemic was not exclusively negative for mental health, which is an important insight given the

many ways in which the pandemic affected people’s lives.

Counterclaims/Opposing Arguments

One must remember that increased mental health problems were present before the

COVID-19 crisis, which has been attributed to numerous factors, including time spent in front of

screens, social media, and economic disparities. Pierce et al. (2020) argue that “mental health

problems were already on the rise before COVID-19 due to changes in society such as the use of

technology and social media that have been associated with increased symptoms of anxiety and

depression. “This line of thought posits that the occurrence of mental health issues was not

initiated by the pandemic but was already on the rise.

Rebuttal/Refutation
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Of course, the phenomenon of mental disorders was not invented during the pandemic,

but the pandemic greatly amplified it. Being locked down in their homes and experiencing job

loss and fear all at once led to a massive mental health emergency. Pfefferbaum and North (2020)

state that the COVID-19 pandemic has created fear and concern for both getting the illness and

the future ramifications of the pandemic, which shows that the pandemic exacerbated mental

health issues beyond the baseline. Based on the findings of the latest research, it can be stated

that the pandemic has had a significant negative impact on mental health and intensified existing

problems.

Conclusion

In conclusion, COVID-19 has had a major effect on the mental health of people in

America and has contributed to the rise of anxiety, depression, and other related mental health

disorders. The main factors include loneliness, financial difficulties, and the constant awareness

of the virus, as shown by many surveys and professionals. It is reasonable to assume that not

everyone suffered from the negative effects; some people noted the positives they experienced,

such as more family time and personal development, but the general trend of mental health

deterioration can be observed. The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened existing mental health

problems and brought new ones into the world. This crisis can only be met with immediate and

integrated solutions for mental health support services and measures against its continued effects.

To support people’s well-being in the post-pandemic period, it is crucial to maintain a focus on

mental health as one of the key components of society’s health.

References
‌Holmes, E. A., O’Connor, R. C., V Hugh Perry, Tracey, I., Wessely, S., Arseneault, L., Ballard,

C., Christensen, H., Roxane Cohen Silver, Everall, I., Ford, T., John, A., Kabir, T., King,

K., Madan, I., Michie, S., Przybylski, A. K., Shafran, R., Sweeney, A., & Worthman, C.

M. (2020). Multidisciplinary research priorities for the COVID-19 pandemic: a call for

action for mental health science. ˜the œLancet. Psychiatry, 7(6), 547–560.

https://doi.org/10.1016/s2215-0366(20)30168-1

‌Kontoangelos, K., Economou, M., & Papageorgiou, C. (2020). Mental Health Effects of COVID-

19 Pandemia: A Review of Clinical and Psychological Traits. Psychiatry

Investigation, 17(6), 491–505. https://doi.org/10.30773/pi.2020.0161

Pfefferbaum, B., & North, C. S. (2020). Mental Health and the Covid-19 Pandemic. New

England Journal of Medicine/˜the œNew England Journal of Medicine, 383(6), 510–

512. https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmp2008017

Pierce, M., Hope, H., Ford, T., Hatch, S., Hotopf, M., John, A., Evangelos Kontopantelis, Webb,

R., Wessely, S., McManus, S., & Abel, K. M. (2020). Mental health before and during the

COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal probability sample survey of the UK

population. ˜the œLancet. Psychiatry, 7(10), 883–892. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2215-

0366(20)30308-4
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‌Vindegaard, N., & Michael Eriksen Benros. (2020). COVID-19 pandemic and mental health

consequences: Systematic review of the current evidence. Brain, Behavior, and

Immunity, 89, 531–542. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2020.05.048

‌Xiong, J., Lipsitz, O., Nasri, F., Lui, L. M. W., Gill, H., Phan, L., Chen-Li, D., Iacobucci, M.,

Ho, R., Majeed, A., & McIntyre, R. S. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental

Health in the General population: a Systematic Review. Journal of Affective

Disorders, 277(277), 55–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.08.001