Scholarly Paper 1_ POI and Philosophic Underpinnings

 The Impact of COVID on Mental Health
Coronavirus (COVID) has affected and claimed the lives of millions, placing the
United States (US) in a pandemic. The virus began spreading in 2019 and has since
accumulated variants that continue to run rapid in 2022. COVID is known for causing
respiratory distress, but it also causes mental distress. US citizens living in fear
experiencing; anxiety, stress, depression, paranoia, suicide, etc? This virus has
challenged physical health, mental health, spiritual/religious beliefs, social life, political
views, etc (Tavares & C.M., 2021). Resources and interventions are needed for US
citizens battling mental health illnesses related to COVID.
Learning Outcome Phenomenon of Interest (POI)
There is research signifying mental health has indeed been impacted by COVID.
The UK reports millennials experiencing increased levels of mental distress related to the
pandemic (Lancet Psychiatry, 2021); the added stress of the pandemic includes caring for
children in virtual school, social isolation, financial loss, quarantine, loss of a loved one,
and more. Although millennials have a higher chance of survival after contracting
COVID, they too experience fear of the unknown. Millennials have higher susceptibility
to stress and/or mental illness associated with the pandemic and challenges of life itself.
Millennials fall into the category of working, going to college, socializing, starting
families, searching for the right career, etc. The end of the pandemic does not seem to be
in sight. The media, social media, and politics continue to spread conflicting information
causing US citizens more stress. (Bhattacharjee & Acharya, 2020).