I know that PTSD is the one most commonly thrown around, but... I'd really like people to remember that there are a lot more mental illnesses related to trauma, and all of them will have much higher rates post-pandemic than they did before.
My family's hereditary psychotic disorder was, for all of us, activated by gaslighting and a fear of the government - plenty of people will develop something similar as a result of living in a fascist government that is literally kidnapping people off the streets.
Anxiety disorders? Yeah, living through a pandemic where you're not sure whether it's safe to run into the pharmacy today for your meds or if it'll kill you will cause that for you.
Addiction is a coping mechanism in response to stress - when your life is unbearable as is, you find something to distract you.
Kids being stuck at home, dealing with long-distance learning and having their childhood derailed, all with little support (or none, if their caregivers are abusive) are going to have huge rates of personality disorders and DID/OSDD at the end of all this.
Everyone stuck at home with an abuser, or worried whether they'll be able to afford food next month, or who buried loved ones, or who survived a horrific plague... all these people are going to be at higher risk of all sorts of trauma-related illnesses.
And that's just the *new* instances of mental illness. Serious societal collapse is not exactly conducive to managing your pre-existing stuff.
My family's hereditary psychotic disorder was, for all of us, activated by gaslighting and a fear of the government - plenty of people will develop something similar as a result of living in a fascist government that is literally kidnapping people off the streets.
Anxiety disorders? Yeah, living through a pandemic where you're not sure whether it's safe to run into the pharmacy today for your meds or if it'll kill you will cause that for you.
Addiction is a coping mechanism in response to stress - when your life is unbearable as is, you find something to distract you.
Kids being stuck at home, dealing with long-distance learning and having their childhood derailed, all with little support (or none, if their caregivers are abusive) are going to have huge rates of personality disorders and DID/OSDD at the end of all this.
Everyone stuck at home with an abuser, or worried whether they'll be able to afford food next month, or who buried loved ones, or who survived a horrific plague... all these people are going to be at higher risk of all sorts of trauma-related illnesses.
And that's just the *new* instances of mental illness. Serious societal collapse is not exactly conducive to managing your pre-existing stuff.