key: cord-0794886-j8voj68w
authors: Wasserman, Danuta; van der Gaag, Rutger; Wise, Jan
title: The term “physical distancing” is recommended rather than “social distancing” during the COVID-19 pandemic for reducing feelings of rejection among people with mental health problems
date: 2020-06-01
journal: Eur Psychiatry
DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2020.60
sha: 05f954c4c1e26cb23e0dc1d1ad25802693a1c5ff
doc_id: 794886
cord_uid: j8voj68w

As COVID-19 has plagued our world, the term “social distancing” has been widely used with the aim to encourage the general population to physically distance themselves from others in order to reduce the spread of the virus. However, this term can have unintended but detrimental effects, as it evokes negative feelings of being ignored, unwelcome, left alone with one's own fears, and even excluded from society. These feelings may be stronger in people with mental illnesses and in socio-economically disadvantaged groups, such as stigmatized minorities, migrants, and homeless persons [1], many of them also having high risk for suicidal behaviors [2]. Mental health disorders are pervasive worldwide; the global burden accounting for approximately 21.2–32.4% of years lived with disability—more than any other group of illnesses [3]. So, the vulnerable group of people with mental health disorders represents a considerable share of the total global population.

Now, as the world begins to reduce the restrictions in place and return to some sense of normality during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, daily social interactions will increase. However, also during this time, everyone should be careful about maintaining a physical distance to avoid a second wave of COVID-19 infectionsyet at the same time remain social, supportive, and empathetic toward one another. Let us be inclusive, in both our words and our actions, so that no one feels excluded or isolated from their wider community.

After one of the authors who is also the Chair of the EPA Ethics Committee (D.W.) alerted the WHO Mental Health and Substance Abuse division that the term "social distancing" was adversely influencing vulnerable groups, the WHO's COVID-19 response team on March 23 addressedthe media stating that the term "physical distancing" will replace "social distancing" for the sake of mentally ill persons.

Policy makers, media, governments, and the general public should be encouraged to use the more neutral term of "physical distancing" rather than "social distancing" during the COVID-19 pandemic on the basis of the negative connotations of this term.

Conflict of Interest. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Terms 'physical distancing' and 'emotional closeness' should be used and not 'social distancing' when defeating the Covid-19 pandemic

Suicide: an unnecessary death

Estimating the true global burden of mental illness

The relationship between entrapment and suicidal behavior through the lens of the integrated motivational-volitional model of suicidal behavior

The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and implications for clinical practice

As coronavirus spreads, so does xenophobia and anti-Asian racism

Multidisciplinary research priorities for the COVID-19 pandemic: a call for action for mental health science

Longitudinal relationships between positive affect, loneliness, and suicide ideation: age-specific factors in a general population

Mental Health First Aid is an effective public health intervention for improving knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour: a meta-analysis

Psychiatry in the age of COVID-19

The impact of digital technology on psychological treatments and their dissemination