The psychological damage of confinement and being homeless during the 2nd confinement. Sergika GOMIS

A variable experience depending on the conditions in which this experience is lived,
confinement can in a certain period of time lead to a harmful psychological impact on the
human being. Playing on mood disorders, mental confusion and even post-traumatic stress
disorder. These extremely rare but worrying phenomena occur with the duration of isolation,
but also with other factors such as housing conditions, loss of income, lack of information, or
boredom. Most of the negative effects come from the imposition of a restriction of freedom ;
voluntary quarantine is associated with less distress and fewer long-term complications.
According to the British scientific and medical journal The Lancet, in its article published on 26
February, the Lancet advocates the major importance of information to inform the public so
that they understand the medical issue. However, in this article, it is clear that the newspaper
strongly questions the restriction of freedom imposed. In France and throughout the world,
these different associations in the current context, several committees of researchers are
carrying out research on this subject.
This research is intended to evaluate the conditions of confinement, the social environment
and the mental well-being of the people concerned. Questions about general health, possible
infection with the virus, concern about the risk of infection, the conditions of confinement (size
of the home, number of people under the same roof, garden...), the social network before and
during confinement, mood, emotions, stress level and perceptions are numerous among the
population.
However, a part of the population is more disadvantaged during this pandemic: the homeless.
In France, the situation of the homeless is an important point in the management of the health
crisis that is going through the country. Exposed to the health risks linked to the Covid-19
epidemic and with the coming winter cold, homeless people are considered to be at risk. While
not dramatising the situation, the aid provided by local authorities and local associations is
helping these people so that they do not feel even more alone than they already do through the
marauding.
In England, for example who enters a second COVID-19 lockdown, charities urged the
government on Friday to revive a nationwide scheme to house rough sleepers over the winter,
saying aid announced this week for homeless hotspots was not enough.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday the ‘Everyone In’ programme had housed some
29,000 people since the first lockdown began - two-thirds of them permanently, and pledged 15
million pounds ($19 million) in new funding for 10 areas.
Following his announcement, more than 70 charity groups wrote to interior minister Priti Patel
and housing secretary Robert Jenrick to demand the national rehousing scheme be resurrected.
They said people at risk of being deported - who cannot access state aid - would be especially
vulnerable without similar help to house them. To conclude and be pragmatic about this
subject, the help and solidarity of each person allows us to perceive in a different way how the
epidemic has changed or strengthened our social relations with others.