Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Pakistani Population and Health Care Providers

Abstract

The psychological crisis during COVID-19 was complex and badly affected the general population and healthcare providers in Pakistan. Due to illiteracy and a lack of trust in public health care providers, people were heavily influenced by quaks, clerics and conspiracy theories. Unemployment led to financial constraints and the chances of domestic violence in lower socioeconomic classes. The people's general attitude towards coronatine and related preventive measures also faced backlash, as people frequently violated the suggested isolation or even did not bother to attack law enforcement agencies. Similarly, obtaining psychological services did not get enough attention as people were more convinced of easy remedies from different sources (quakes, clerics and self-proclaimed scholars) who claimed to have a miracle treatment for COVID-19 infection. The psychologically challenging situation was even dreadful for healthcare providers who were providing services upfront. The health professionals endured crises at personal and professional levels as firstly they faced the moral dilemma of not being able to save the lives of critical patients—secondly, the potential to be carriers of infection for their relatives and close ones. Thirdly, facing unseen fear for their safety and multiple deaths of health professionals reported in media and other sources. These above crises were further ignited by patients' neglected behaviours because patients used to be involved in neglected behaviours that often put their personal and health care provider health safety at risk. Consequently, a large number of health care providers restricted their services and many of them opted to quit their jobs.