Mental Illnesses were thought to be caused by supernatural means, such as demonic possession, witchcraft, or an angry god, which would lead to either exorcisms (if they were said to be possessed by a demon), or unjust witch trials (if they were said to be witches), which included burning at the stake, drowning, or hanging. In the 18th century, asylums were made to separate mentally ill people from society. However, the conditions were,horrible, as patients were beaten, chained to beds, and kept in rooms described as windowless dungeons. French physician Philippe Pinel practiced more human treatment of patients by conversing with them, leading to improvements in the patients In the 19th Century, Dorothea Dix led mental health reforms in the US, which found that asylums were underfunded and not regulated, which led to abuse of it’s patients.

1. Mental Health Before, During, and
After COVID-19
By: Brian Lewis, Jared Shelton, and Markus Philpott

2. In the Past
● Mental Illnesses were thought to be caused by supernatural means, such as demonic possession,
witchcraft, or an angry god, which would lead to either exorcisms (if they were said to be
possessed by a demon), or unjust witch trials (if they were said to be witches), which included
burning at the stake, drowning, or hanging.
● In the 18th century, asylums were made to separate mentally ill people from society. However,
the conditions were,horrible, as patients were beaten, chained to beds, and kept in rooms
described as windowless dungeons. French physician Philippe Pinel practiced more human
treatment of patients by conversing with them, leading to improvements in the patients
● In the 19th Century, Dorothea Dix led mental health reforms in the US, which found that
asylums were underfunded and not regulated, which led to abuse of it’s patients.

3. In the Past (cont.)
● Electroshock therapy was a brief application of an electric stimulus to the patient, used to
produce a generalized seizure, coming with the downside of breaking patient’s backs. It is still
used today under the name electroconvulsive therapy, but it uses safeguards and anesthesia.
● Antipsychotic Medication was introduced in 1954, and proved to be extremely helpful,
however, it would lead to loss of contact with reality, such as hallucinations and delusions.
● In 1963, Congress passed the Mental Retardation Facilities and Community Mental Health
Centers Construction Act, which gave federal support and funding for community mental health
centers, which changed how mental health services were delivered in the US. It also started
deinstitutionalization, which is the closing of large asylums, by providing for people to be
treated locally.

4. Modern History/Before COVID-19
● Asylums were replaced with mental health clinics and psychiatric hospitals
● Most people with psychological issues do not stay in a psychiatric hospital
○ They usually see a Psychologist or Psychiatrist
● Psychologist
○ Trained professional who uses psychotherapy to help patients with mental illnesses
○ Medical Psychologist
■ Can prescribe medicine
● Psychiatrist
○ Trained physicians who provide medical diagnosis and treatment
■ Prescribe medicine
■ Psychological treatment
■ Other medical treatments

5. During COVID-19(Online Mental Health)
● Due to social distancing, mental health has taken a huge hit
● Psychologists and Psychiatrists have moved their practices online
○ Before they were mostly in-person
○ Learning Curve
● Mental Health apps are rising in number
○ No real evidence supporting how effective they are
○ Could be detrimental if they fail while someone is using them.
● Mental Health Hotlines

6. During COVID-19(Mental Health)
● Described as the largest psychological experiment
○ Over 24 studies showing the effects of quarantine on stress and mental disorder
■ low mood(Most Common) , insomnia, stress, anxiety, anger, irritability(Most Common),
emotional exhaustion, depression and
○ 28% of parents in a Chinese study faced higher levels of stress
○ 10% of quarantined hospital staff recorded having extreme psychological issues(up to 3 years)
● Millennials will likely face the worst psychological issues
○ 47% increase in major stress diagnoses since 2013
○ Social distancing will lead lead to the most damage in this group of people.

7. After COVID-19
● While it will not replace traditional treatment, online treatment will likely become more
common if research shows it is effective
● Many experts believe that there will be second epidemic (mental health)
○ It will be shown through burnout and absenteeism due to stress.
■ Military after deployment in high risk area (absenteeism)
■ Companies close to “Ground Zero” in 9/11
■ Hospital workers during the Ebola, SARS and MERS outbreaks
■ Belgian study, people with high resilience to toxic stress decreased by 7% while people with high
risk increased by 10%
● Life itself will change social and in the government

8. Interview 1: Dr. Stephanie Grant
- How has Covid-19 affected her life?
- Virtual Job
- Disruptive, but blessed because she can work online (No loss of income)
- While we’re all in the same storm, but not in the same boat
- First three weeks were the most stressful
- Transition from traditional to online and still had to interact with the public
- Worry about family members due to health concern
- How has Covid-19 affected work stress
- Quickly adjust class to online
- However she has had experience teaching online
- She could not help over shoulder, so led to more out of class need to assist students: extra
office hours and emails
- Overwhelming trying to adjust course and help students

9. Interview 1: Dr. Stephanie Grant
- Why do people choose not to stay at home?
- Fallacy in people’s thinking that people have understating/overestimating likelihood of
something happening to you.
- People believe they are invincible
- Do not understand statistical likelihood
- Threatens sense of self
- Why is social distancing so hard?
- Humans have need for attachment (physical connection/emotional attachment with other
humans is arguably as necessary as food and protection from heat and cold)
- Romanian Orphanages: They did not have enough nurses for all of the babies. Led to lack of
emotional attachment and attachment.
- 1 nurse took care of well over 100 infants
- They were fed and had shelter
- Most horrific neurological problems in modern history
- Rage problems and the inability to attach with humans

10. Interview 1: Dr. Stephanie Grant
- What recommendations do you have for people struggling with stress from this
pandemic and social distancing?
- Give yourself spaciousness/room to be imperfect
- Emergency teaching during a pandemic
- Remember that you’re only human

11. Interview 2: Dr. Tami Singleton
● Only sees patients who are extremely sick
○ Sickle cell, chemotherapy
○ Hard for patients with psychological disorders to receive care.
● Only a consult for Covid patients
○ Make sure they do not have other issues
● Outpatient practice
○ No more elective visits
○ Using telemedicine
○ Learning curve
● Cut employees and pay cuts(Financial)
○ Some doctors have forced vacation
○ No payments/bill have been put on hold

12. Interview 2: Dr. Tami Singleton
● Psychological
○ Everything has been put on hold
○ Not seeing the same patients in person
○ Decrease in revenue means bills can’t be payed
○ Family members can be affected.
○ Feeling of helplessness due to not knowing what will happen next
○ Cannot get proper supplies(M98 mask)
● Everyone in the hospital are being tasked with putting their lives on the line
○ Do not have appropriate equipment
○ Pay cuts
● Emotional
○ Most anxiety since being a doctor
○ Possibilities of losing patients

13. Tableau Data Sheet
● https://public.tableau.com/profile/markus.philpott#!/vizhome/COVID-19StressSurvey/MoreLessStress