The personal and emotional life of Lanzarote residents has been fully affected by the coronavirus pandemic, generating an increase in the consumption of medications to fight depression or anxiety, among other mental health problems.
This has been confirmed by a survey from the Canary Islands Sociobarometer, which reveals that one in four Lanzarote residents is medicated to treat mental health problems after the Covid health crisis. Specifically, from a sample of 400 people, 25.6% currently consume medication, compared to 17.1% who did so before 2020.
In addition, in these last two years, the type of medication consumed by those affected has also changed, with the consumption of anxiolytics, tranquilizers or antipsychotics and antidepressants now predominating.
Of the 25.6% of Lanzarote residents who are medicated, 73.2% take anxiolytics today, compared to 9.9% who did so before the outbreak of the health crisis. The growth is also exponential in terms of tranquilizers or antipsychotics, going from a consumption of 1% before 2020 to 66.7% this year.
Antidepressants have also become increasingly frequent among people in treatment, since 20.3% of those surveyed who are medicated take them today, compared to 11.5% two years ago.
It should be noted that Lanzarote has gone from being the island with the lowest consumption of this type of medication before the crisis, to occupying the first place in the archipelago. In addition, the island far exceeds the Canary Islands average, which stands at 42.5% for anxiolytics, 16.1% for antidepressants and 15% for tranquilizers.
However, medications related to sleep regulation are no longer among the most consumed, since they have fallen from 72.1% to 12.9% in the last two years in Lanzarote, as have analgesics and anti-inflammatories, which have been reduced from 48.4% to 0.
Loneliness and depression, the most frequent problems
The results of the Sociobarometer also reflect the emotions felt by those surveyed during the situation of uncertainty left by the pandemic, which continues to worry 40.3% of those surveyed to a great extent.
Specifically, 40.5% indicated that in the last two years they had often or sometimes felt emotional difficulties, such as anxiety or fear.
In addition, 26.1% had suffered a couple or family crisis, 12% had experienced obsessions, 4.3% gender or family violence and 2.3% had had suicidal thoughts.
Percentages that grow in terms of loneliness and depression, since 48.5% stated that they had felt very sad or depressed often or sometimes during the coronavirus crisis and 45.1% alone or isolated.
20.6% have received professional help
Faced with these mental health problems derived from the coronavirus, the survey reflects that 20.6% of those interviewed have asked for or received professional help at some point. Specifically, 8% are currently receiving professional treatment, while 12.6% have asked for help at some time.
In addition, 6.4% have also considered it at some point, but do not know where to go, while 72.8% have not thought about resorting to professional help.
It is important to mention that Lanzarote is one of the islands where the least help is requested or received in terms of mental health currently, only behind El Hierro, which reaches a figure of 75.1%.
