Health

Mental health problems increasing in Portugal due to coronavirus lockdown

Lisbon (Portugal), March 7 (EFE), (Camera: Andrea Caballero).- Vasco Prazedes, 21, is enjoying the morning in Oeiras, on the outskirts of Lisbon, taking photos at sea with his aquatic camera. The beaches in Portugal have just reopened to practice sports and he is grateful because it "helps people to distract themselves from this." By 'this' he refers to the second nationwide lockdown in Portugal, which began on January 15 and will last at least until March 16, and which for him "was very heavy, hard and difficult." According to experts, millions of people have experienced this feeling which has led to a significant increase in cases of depression, anxiety and eating disorders. SOUNDBITES OF:-ANA PAULA MATOS, PSYCHOLOGIST OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COIMBRA:"These young people had a more positive emotionality, more positive emotions and they felt easier and more satisfied with their lives. They didn't have negative emotions. After living the pandemic, what they report is an experience of increased levels of sadness, fear, and anger.""This implies sadness, irritability, a greater tendency to gain or lose weight. Lack of self-confidence, insecurity, doubts about the future, guilt. It has increased from 8% to 14%.""This can have an important impact on young people because they are in a phase where socialization is very important. They are confined at home with the family, which on the one hand is comfortable, but on the other, it prevents them of having more direct socialization with their friends." -VASCO PRAZEDES, 21: "Sport is very important to keep us alive.""It was heavier, harder... because we had already experienced it. It was very difficult for me. I felt depressed because there was not much to do and there was no class. The future will always be worse."