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.