There is little data available on the increase in mental illnesses because of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
This was highlighted in the United Nations Pacific Socio-Economic Impact Assessment of COVID-19 in Fiji.
According to the report, mental health issues were expected to have risen exponentially because of COVID-19 for a number of reasons, like depression and anxiety as a result of the fear of the health threat or the economic consequences accompanying it.
“In addition, mental health outcomes globally were predicted to worsen as a result of precautionary lockdowns and restrictions on movement,” the report said.
“This is likely to cause loneliness and feelings of anxiety for many.”
The report added that to estimate the pandemic’s impact on mental health in Fiji, several scenarios providing a range of possible mental health outcomes were provided.
According to the report’s conservative assumptions, mental illness may rise in the immediate aftermath by 10, 15 or 20 per cent, according to three scenarios of severity.
“In the long run, the increase in mental illness prevalence is expected to continuously reduce as the world gradually returns to pre-COVID-19 times.” The report also stated that in Fiji, little epidemiological data was available on the prevalence of mental disorders.
“However, in recent years, there has been a large increase in mental health services utilisation in St Giles, Fiji’s hospital for mental illness.”
The report indicated that out of the patients utilising services, close to half of all patients had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, with mood disorders being second to that.
“The high demand for mental health services has led to over utilisation of services and long waiting lists at divisional hospitals.
“To counteract this, opening hours at selected urban and peri-urban health centres had already been extended pre-COVID-19.
“However, despite these efforts, most patients with mental illness still never receive treatment.”
The report also highlighted that in 2013, the treatment gap for mental health patients in Fiji was estimated to stand between 89.7 and 96.9 per cent.
It highlighted that COVID-19 was likely to have an adverse impact on mental health, regarding depression, suicide and severe mental disorders.
