Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

France: Depression, Psychotic Disorders Sweep Country amid Corona


Sat 21 Nov 2020 | 06:39 PM
Ahmed Moamar

During his weekly press briefing, the Minister of Health in France said  that the mental health of the French people has deteriorated significantly between the end of September and early November due to the increase of Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases.

He warned of a noticeable increase in depressive syndromes that have been observed in recent weeks for all social and demographic groups.

The minister added that psycho disorders appear more among people who suffer from difficult financial situations, and also among young people between the ages of 18 and 24 years, and finally for people who have already announced a history of depression.

Ferrand confirmed the statements made on Tuesday by the Director-General of Health, Jerome Salomon, who spoke of a "significant increase in the incidence of depression in France.

He continued to say that the psychological impact of the pandemic and the quarantine is realistic.

He also spoke of a noticeable increase in confirmed cases of COVID-19 that has led to concern in France since the end of August."

Ferrand noted that the restrictions imposed on the French people as the quarantine continued, "were not simple or without negative repercussions.

He explained  that the government has never overlooked this (psychological) dimension of the health crisis.

The minister called on the French to "assemble together" in the face of the "bitterness and fatigue" they face after imposing quarantine due to the second wave of Corona that struck the country.

He stressed that the more the people respect confinement, the shorter the length of staying in the quarantine.

On Wednesday,  more than 4000 patients were treated in intensive care units across the country.

Less than a week after the entry into force of the re-containment, Health Minister Olivier Ferrand described, during a press conference on the Coronavirus epidemic in France, a worrisome health condition, which can be compared or even more serious than what the country suffered between March and May.