KAILALI: Mansingh Pariyar of Tikapur, Kailai has, since the COVID-19 crisis, lost sleep over the future of his two sons.

His two sons had been in overseas employment until the pandemic forced them out of their jobs. He is worried about his two sons who are jobless at foreign land.

Additionally, he had to finance for bringing his son and daughter-in-law back home from India following the crisis. With the stopping of the means of family income, he has been struggling to run the family.

These days, Pariyar could neither properly eat nor sleep. He talks to himself. These all suggest that he might have a mental health issue. “I was in distress with the enforcement of nationwide lockdown owing to coronavirus. I have been an insomniac since the past five months,” he shared his story.

As he said, he has been experiencing other several issues together with insomnia. ‘’I have become short-tempered and lost appetite.’’ he said.

It has been predicted that lockdown has caused a big loss in the country’s socio-economic sector. This loss has led to the rise in psychosocial problem.

The families who were economically dependent on migrant members are facing psychosocial issue.

Another woman of Kigali is going through the same condition. Her spouse and two sons had been in India. All three have jobs due to coronavirus lockdown there.

The family has now been struggling to manage a two square meal. “I have lost my weight and enthusiasm, through frequent sweating and find myself speaking alone,’’ she said. She feared that anxiety would ruin her.

The expecting mothers and new mothers endured mental stress post lockdown. Kaman Bohora gave birth to a baby during the lockdown. She faced a lot of stress during her pregnancy which has led to physical weakness in her.

“My husband who is now in India has lost his job. I have an infant of one month,” shared Kamana adding,” I was in labor pain for three days. We could not visit the nearest hospital due to fear of coronavirus infection.

My relatives brought me hospital after I had excessive bleeding following the delivery of my baby. That’s how I survived.”

Since Kamana was suffering from loss of blood, doctors advised her to take an additional pint of blood but due to financial constraint she could not do so.

She also goes on sharing the harrowing tales of how she could not drift to slumber during pregnancy. “I am suffering insomnia and my baby is still small. I could remain happy during the pregnancy due to financial and mental stress,” she narrated who is currently under medication.

Psychosocial counsellor at Tikapur Municipality Dhanraj BK shared that 254 women from Tikapur, Kailali district were provided counselling during the pregnancy.

Among those seeking counselling, the number of women stands comparatively higher, according to BK. He explained, “Most of the counselling seekers were people having their family members abroad, those returning from abroad loosing their job, pregnant woman and new mothers.

Even the teenagers were in need of counselling as schools are closed for a long time.”

Psychiatric Dr Mohan Belbase shared that number of people seeking psychosocial counselling had doubled with the growing number of COVID-19.

If the mental health related issues were not treated timely, further complications would arise.

“Mind is the biggest thing. If this mind is at peace, it spreads love and goodwill. If this mind is disturbed, it commits crime.

Hence, we should prevent negative thoughts from coming and influencing our thought process,” advised Dr Belbase.

He also pressed for timely treatment and support of family and relative for those suffering mental agony.