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Faizel Patel – 10/02/2021
A PhD Candidate at Stellenbosch University Psychosis Research Program says South Africans have still not mentally adapted to life under COVID-19.
Dr Lebogang Phahladira was speaking to Radio Islam on Tuesday about the COVID state of mind and how not to get lost in the maze of facts and fiction
The pandemic is causing many people to feel more anxious, stressed, and depressed especially with the lockdown protocols to mitigate the spread of the Coronavirus.
Dr Phahladira says it is important to remember that COVID-19 is a new virus that nobody knew anything about.
“We haven’t seen anything like this in our lifetime. The last time there was something like this was early in the twentieth century when people struggled with Spanish flu. The second thing is that for us to contain this, it requires all of us to abandon that which makes us human, contact, interactions with other people, working from home and so on.”
Dr Phahladira says while the public must be informed on the latest news about COVID-19, it must be done coherently.
“I really think the manner in which it was done in the recent past, it has confused everybody. It has confused even doctors and scientists and nurses. I think the people who were entrusted with providing information, while their intention was good, the manner in which they delivered the information, they delivered the science, was a bit too heavy for a pay person.”
Dr Phahladira says with so much facts to absorb and with corruption and other issues surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, it has “killed the trust” between leaders and people adding that it makes it difficult even if government means well, people have an element of suspicion.
Listen to the interview with Dr. Lebogang Phahladira
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