PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The world was faced with a global menace from the disease Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) of the virus SARS-CoV-2, which turned into a pandemic with significant health, social and economic consequences. Many countries faced the unpredictable challenge of managing and preventing the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The research carried out so far has shown that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the psychological well-being of a part of the population.Restrictive measures, misinformation, the lack of human resources and limited logistical resources were the main factors of psychological concerns of people affected by the pandemic. Fear, insecurity, physical isolation, and economic difficulties influenced the appearance of symptoms such as: stress, anxiety, panic, sleep disorders and suicidal acts. A great importance during the pandemic was played by the media, especially social media. The large volume of often unprofessional information, disinformation, fake news and the spread of conspiracy theories on social networks has affected the public's distraction, worsening mental health.