Have you been wondering why life right now is so different? Do you want to know what we can do to get life back to normal? Because of this worldwide pandemic caused by the coronavirus, this past year has been a struggle for a lot of people, and there are many things we still need to take into account and understand about what we have all been dealing with at this current moment in history. Masks are one of the most important things needed to protect everyone at this time. Also, as vaccines are becoming more common, we can see how much of a difference they will make when more people begin to receive them. Along with this, the pandemic has affected high school students in many negative ways which revolve around both their school experience and their mental health. Wearing a mask, getting vaccinated, and understanding the effects that the pandemic has had through quarantine and social distancing on people’s mental health are extremely important because these things will help prevent the spread of Covid-19, and it will help us understand what we need to do help people with struggling mental health during this time.

First, masks are one thing we have had to get used to during this year-long pandemic, but not everyone believes they are as effective as studies show. A study by the World Health Organization found that “Face mask use could result in a large reduction in risk of infection. In compliant users, masks were highly effective at reducing transmission” (Howard et al.). This study discovered that masks make a huge difference and could lead to improvement if only everyone would comply and do their part. Based on this research, we can see how little things like wearing a mask can play a big role in preventing the spread of Covid-19 and leading back towards a normal life. Because masks can have a serious impact on the spread of the coronavirus, and they can help lead to an overall solution, they should be required in all public places for everyone’s protection.

Next, vaccinations created to help slow the spread of Covid-19 are another thing we are more commonly seeing and hearing about recently, as well as all of the misconceptions and myths people are sharing about them. The Covid-19 vaccines have shown to be both beneficial and effective at fighting the coronavirus. According to the CDC, ¨All Covid-19 vaccines currently available in the United States have been shown to be highly effective at preventing Covid-19, and all vaccines that are in development are being carefully evaluated in clinical trials and will be authorized or approved only if they make it substantially less likely you’ll get Covid-19¨ (CDC). These statements are clear evidence that the vaccinations are only approved and passed out when they have shown to be accurate at preventing Covid-19. This evidence also proves that the vaccines are harmless because it informs us about how they have been through many different tests and trials by several companies, scientists, and doctors to ensure their safety. Getting vaccinated, sharing the true intentions of giving vaccines, and understanding the effectiveness of them will make a big difference towards reaching the end of this pandemic and stopping the spread of Covid-19.

Also, because of this continuous pandemic, we have had to follow both quarantine and social distancing laws, which have caused a lot more mental health issues than many people realize or understand. “The COVID-19 pandemic and its related containment measures—mainly physical distancing and isolation—are having detrimental consequences on the mental health of the general population worldwide. In particular, frustration, loneliness, and worries about the future are common reactions and represent well-known risk factors for several mental disorders” (Giallonardo et al.). This information shows how the issues of isolation and stress can affect people and their mental health, and it helps us understand how much of an impact this pandemic is having on everyone. Covid-19 is more than just a virus because now it is affecting people’s mental health as well, so we need to take these things into account in order to help everyone with their struggles that the pandemic has put on them. Because of what this evidence proves on the dangers of what we are dealing with at this time, we need to take measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 so we can release the worry of social distancing and self-quarantine, and get rid of these unnecessary mental health stressors. 

Finally, wearing a mask, getting vaccinated, and understanding the effects that the pandemic has had through quarantine and social distancing on people’s mental health are extremely important because it will help prevent the spread of Covid-19, and it will help us understand what we need to do help people with struggling mental health during this time. Masks are one thing we have had to get used to during this year-long pandemic, but many people don’t understand their true effectiveness. Covid-19 vaccinations created to help slow the spread of the coronavirus are another thing we are seeing more commonly and hearing about recently, as well as all of the misconceptions and myths people think are true about them. Then, the social distancing and quarantine laws we have had to follow during the pandemic have caused a lot of mental health struggles for many people. Others would argue that masks are ineffective and unnecessary, vaccines are harmful and won’t prevent the coronavirus, and that self-isolation can’t cause serious mental health struggles. However, those things are untrue because many studies have been conducted and the results have shown that masks help keep even the smallest of respiratory particles from exiting and infecting someone, vaccines can create a bigger chance of either preventing Covid-19 entirely, or causing it to be much milder than without it, and self-isolation has shown to cause loneliness and stress which often lead to or affect a more serious mental health problem. This moment in history is very strange and different than we are used to, but with a majority awareness, we could get things back to normal. What will you do to make a difference and prevent the spread of Covid-19?

Works Cited

CDC. “COVID-19 and Your Health.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 11 Feb. 2020, www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/facts.html. Accessed 5 Feb. 2021.

Giallonardo, Vincenzo, et al. “The Impact of Quarantine and Physical Distancing Following COVID-19 on Mental Health: Study Protocol of a Multicentric Italian Population Trial.” Frontiers in Psychiatry, vol. 11, 5 June 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7290062/, 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00533. Accessed 5 Feb. 2021.

Howard, Jeremy, et al. “An Evidence Review of Face Masks against COVID-19.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 118, no. 4, 26 Jan. 2021, www.pnas.org/content/118/4/e2014564118, 10.1073/pnas.2014564118. Accessed 5 Feb. 2021.