Michael Liebowitz, MD: Forecasting How COVID-19 Will Effect the Future of Mental Health

The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic will have a lasting mental health impact that might still be felt in 10 years.

Unlike other tragic events, such as destructive weather, there is no realistic timeline where we know the pandemic will be over.

Also, people tend to come together during those types of events, but social distancing makes it difficult or impossible to socialize.

Michael R Liebowitz, MD, a professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University, explained in an interview with HCPLive®, how patients can handle the mental health stress involved in the pandemic and what doctors can do to make the situation easier on patients.

He explained that no matter what the world is going to be different, even when the threat of the virus is subdued. However, things like telehealth could actually be a benefit for many patients that lasts beyond the pandemic.

“We have no idea how long this is going to last and we don’t really have a clear idea of what it’s going to be like when we come out of this and how much we come out of this,” Liebowitz said. “There are some potential benefits that could come out of this as well.”