| By Tengku Puteri Iman Afzan and Puteri Nor Ariane Yasmin |
DURING the Movement Control Order (MCO) in April, we wrote that the period brought lessons and silver linings for the mental health community and beyond.
Today, we are facing the third wave of Covid-19. Malaysia had the highest number of cases last week, with clusters in Sabah and Kedah, and one-off cases in shopping malls, restaurants, schools and universities.
A re-examination of the second wave of Covid-19 during the MCO would give us an indication of what lies ahead. We know that uncertainties and major changes to our lives are having a considerable impact on our mental health — both for those with mental health issues and for those without.
Therefore, we can expect to see a rise in anxiety and stigmatisation of the coronavirus, as well as among frontliners and patients. With the loan moratorium ending, the impact of the third wave could be compounded by financial woes and unemployment.