The COVID-19 pandemic has become one of the biggest major health crises reported due its massive impact on several countries, with over 32 million cases worldwide. It has hit the entire world hard, but it has especially impacted the mental and physical well-being of many members of the population. Evidence suggests that COVID-19 results in symptoms of anxiety, stress and depression and may be associated with disturbed sleep. The mental health impacts of COVID-19 can also be viewed from the perspective of the general population as well as individuals who already suffer from mental illness. Therefore, it is necessary to educate the public about the physical symptoms of COVID-19, discuss the mental health impacts on members of the population and preventative measures the general population can take to protect their mental and physical well-being from COVID-19. The target audience for this video is the general public including adolescents and teenagers who are more likely to indirectly spread the disease. The information will be presented in the form of an animated Youtube video as an educational and informative message to the public.

Please see links for help here:
Canadian Mental Health Association Hamilton: https://cmhahamilton.ca/programs-services/

Hamilton Mental Health Outreach.: https://www.hnhbhealthline.ca/displayService.aspx?id=180098

City of Hamilton Mental Health Services: https://www.hamilton.ca/public-health/clinics-services/mental-health-services

This video was made by McMaster Demystifying Medicine students Kriti Kakar, Shahrukh Khan and Neelam Farrakh in collaboration with the McMaster Demystifying Medicine Program.
Copyright McMaster University 2020

References:
Kontoangelos, K., Economou, M., & Papageorgiou, C. (2020). Mental health effects of COVID-19 pandemia: a review of clinical and psychological traits. Psychiatry investigation, 17(6), 491.

Lau, K., & Chan, A. (2020, August 16). Reduced physical activity from COVID-19 related restrictions may be linked to higher stress and anxiety levels. Retrieved October 29, 2020, from https://www.2minutemedicine.com/reduced-physical-activity-from-covid-19-related-restrictions-may-be-linked-to-higher-stress-and-anxiety-levels/

Mattioli, A. V., Puviani, M. B., Nasi, M., & Farinetti, A. (2020). COVID-19 pandemic: the effects of quarantine on cardiovascular risk. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1-4.

Pfefferbaum, B., Rutherford, G., Gandhi, M., Joung, J., & Bloom, B. (2020, September 08). Mental Health and the Covid-19 Pandemic: NEJM. Retrieved September 27, 2020, from https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2008017

Rajkumar, R. P. (2020). COVID-19 and mental health: A review of the existing literature. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 52, 102066. doi:10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102066

Ritchie, H., Roser, M. (2020, March 19). We teamed up with Kurzgesagt to make a video about the COVID-19 pandemic. Retrieved September 26, 2020, from https://ourworldindata.org/kurzgesagt-coronavirus-video

Torales, J., O’Higgins, M., Castaldelli-Maia, J. M., & Ventriglio, A. (2020). The outbreak of COVID-19 coronavirus and its impact on global mental health. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 0020764020915212
Yao, H., Chen, J. H., & Xu, Y. F. (2020). Patients with mental health disorders in the COVID-19 epidemic. The Lancet Psychiatry, 7(4), e21.