Nova TV: Corona and earthquake have left a mark: “I’m afraid if we continue like this we will have a pandemic of depression and anxiety”

On the occasion of the World Mental Health Day, Dnevnik Nova TV published an extensive article by journalist Sanja Vištica in which she talked to psychologists about the consequences of the corona and earthquake on mental health in Croatia. One of the interlocutors in the TV enclosure was the director of the Zagreb Child and Youth Protection Center, professor Gordana Buljan Flander, PhD:

“These masks that surround us. People who are completely terrified, lost. I can’t just reconcile that this is normal and that this period will be normal “, says Branka from Zagreb.

“When there was an earthquake, it was very ugly,” says Renata from Zagreb.

This has been the case for many in recent months.

A survey of psychologists from the Faculty of Philosophy on 3,570 respondents showed that after quarantine, every fifth respondent showed serious symptoms of impaired mental health, ie depression, anxiety and stress.

“I am afraid that if we continue like this, we will have a pandemic of depression and anxiety, that we will have more suicides and unwanted things, post-traumatic mental disorders,” warns Zeljka Kamenov from the Department of Psychology at the Faculty of Philosophy in Zagreb.

“We expect an increase in the problem of anxiety – depressive symptoms from some 15 to 25 even 30%,” says Miranda Novak from the Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation.

Associations that provide assistance have submitted a petition to the Parliament and the Government. They demand urgent finding of ways for continuous financing of programs and projects of associations dealing with the provision of psychosocial services, they demand that mobile teams be included in the services financed by HZZO, but also the urgent implementation of the national strategy. They say that the pressure on associations is enormous.

Message to Headquarters

“What is happening is that associations, providers of psycho-social support in the community are about to be shot, that members of those associations that provide that support are facing a storm,” said Ksenija Kapelj, vice president of the Croatian Association for Mental Health Associations.

The situation worries the profession. They are sending a message to the headquarters.

“We need to think about how to preserve people’s complete health. Therefore, involve psychologists in the adoption of measures “, notes Kamenov.

Young people are not immune. Stella tells us she feels like part of it has been taken away from her.

“I couldn’t talk to friends when I wanted to, in the part that I couldn’t hug my best friend when I felt bad. That part that they took away from me part of the decisions about what I will do because I can’t go out “, said student Stella Tonner.

Children and PTSD

The profession pays special attention to children.

Psychologist Gordana Buljan Flander noticed that the number of problems in children has increased. “Research has shown that after some stress, such crises from the past, 30 percent of children develop PTSD and we notice in our clinic that an increasing number of children have some elements of PTSD or have PTSD,” she said.

She found out how a parent can recognize a problem in smaller children.

“If the child has returned to some of old habits, pacifier, wet in bed, has sudden mood swings or has some violent reactions or withdrawal reactions or is not looking forward to some things he was looking forward to before, it is good for the parent to seek help,” she said.

People often point out that this psychosis is reminiscent of wartime.

A psychologist discovers how to keep a healthy head. “We can focus on positive things. Let’s dedicate ourselves to what we love. “Let’s not just take care of the children, and forgot to take care of ourselves,” she warned. “

Disclaimer: This is unofficial translation provided for information purposes. Zagreb Child and Youth Protection Center cannot be held legally responsible for any translation inaccuracy.