Morale already weakened by the health crisis, the French began, Friday, October 30, a second national confinement to try to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Many of them have thus returned to teleworking, leaving certificates, but also with the anguish of seeing the pandemic drag on.

Anxiety, addictive behavior, isolation ... The consequences of a second confinement on the mental health of citizens could prove to be even more worrying, believes Astrid Chevance, psychiatrist and epidemiology researcher at the Center for Research in Epidemiology and Statistics (CRESS) of the 'Inserm.

Interview. 

This second confinement promises to be a new ordeal.

Should we fear greater psychological effects on the population?

Astrid Chevance

: It is very difficult for scientists, and even more so for doctors, to make predictions because we are living in an unprecedented situation.

However, unlike the first confinement, surveys carried out on the mental health of the French, such as that carried out by Public Health France, show that the population is today particularly tired.

Depressive symptoms are already very present and may therefore be more important in the future.

The morale of the troops is not good. 

During the first weeks of March, one observed in certain social classes, a form of exaltation.

The situation was unprecedented and some, even if they are in the minority, may have considered this period as a kind of opportunity.

Today, we are obviously no longer in this scenario.

People have realized that we are facing a phenomenon that cannot be fully controlled and of which we do not know the outcome.

There is therefore a general anxiety linked to all these uncertainties. 

In addition, we already had to change our habits during the first wave, which may have been a tiring ordeal for many.

And despite these efforts, we see that this is not enough.

There is therefore a general psychic wear because we do not see the end of this health crisis. 

Can the winter season worsen this psychic wear and tear?

Seasonal depressions are classically manifested in November.

Having to stay locked in at home during this time and reducing our social contact is obviously not going to help.

Already usually, the holiday season is often experienced with difficulty by people suffering from mental disorders or in a situation of social isolation. 

But this end of the year may be even more complicated for everyone, because family reunions may not be allowed.

This idea remains difficult to accept today for many families. 

Who are the most vulnerable and likely to suffer more from this second confinement?

The people most at risk are first of all those victims of domestic violence and confined with their aggressor, that is to say mainly women and children.

Even in this particular context, these people should definitely not stay at home with their attacker.

They must protect themselves and contact associations likely to be able to help them (3919 or 119).

Another population at risk is also those suffering from chronic diseases, psychiatric or not.

These people could feel abandoned in their follow-up because of the overload of hospitals.

But above all, they must not break their care.

Students could also suffer more.

Many find themselves isolated and far from their families, in a situation of deep uncertainty about their future.

Finally, a final segment of the population could prove to be even more vulnerable: people who experienced pathological mourning during the first wave. 

Many people who lost a loved one last spring were unable to grieve.

Some were unable to attend a funeral or accompany their loved one as they wished.

Social rituals and funeral rites that frame mourning allow us to be in a phase of transition.

But some people still suffer today from not having done it.

This is undoubtedly one of the reasons why the government has relaxed certain restrictions (cemeteries still open, possible visits to relatives in retirement homes).

What advice would you give to better understand this period?

This may seem difficult because we do not all have the same material conditions, but you have to be able to diversify your activities as much as possible.

Because when we are stuck in a mode of operation, we cut ourselves off from the rest of the world.

If the symptoms of anxiety are too severe, however, do not hesitate to contact your doctor.

More generally, we have to sort out our surroundings and keep the link with the people who are “carriers” to us.

It is also essential to maintain contact with the most fragile, watch those who are not well.

Also keep a regular rhythm of life: do not shift your sleep cycle, eat at regular times, try to maintain physical activity ...

Finally, it is important to limit the practices that could worsen our condition over the long term (alcohol, drugs, etc.) or our anxiety.

Because when the level of anxiety rises, the human being tries to drift, to forget his state of stress.

He can then indulge in behaviors that relieve him at the moment but which in the medium or long term will be deleterious.

For example, avoid spending too much time on social media or streaming news channels.

This leads us astray when the uncertainty is already great. 

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