The emotional well-being of Long COVID patients, widening social support and stigmatization in health and social services: a qualitative study

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Long COVID patients have experienced a decline in their quality of life caused, in part but not wholly, by its negative emotional impact. Some of the most prevalent mental symptoms presented by Long COVID patients are anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders. Therefore, the need has arisen to establish the personal experiences of these patients to understand how they are managing in their daily lives while dealing with the condition. Objective: To increase understanding of the emotional well-being of people diagnosed with Long COVID. Methodology: A qualitative design was created and carried out using 35 patients, with 17 subjects being interviewed individually and 18 of them taking part in two focus groups. The participating patients were recruited in November and December 2021 from Primary Health Care (PHC) centers in the city of Zaragoza (Northern Spain) and from the Association of Long COVID Patients in Aragon. The study themes were emotional well-being, social support networks and experience of discrimination. All analyzes were performed iteratively using NVivo software. Results: The Long COVID patients demonstrated a very low state of mind due to their symptoms and limitations that had been persistent for many months in their daily life. Suicidal thoughts were also mentioned by several patients. They referred to anguish and anxiety about the future as well as fear of reinfection or relapse and returning to work. Many of the participants reported that they have sought the help of a mental health professional. Most identified discriminatory situations in health care. Conclusion: It is necessary to continue delving into the impact that Long COVID has had on mental health, and to provide entities with the necessary resources to solve these problems.