Introduction
During and immediately after a pandemic, the effects of “social scars” in the form of unrest may not manifest themselves immediately. Humanitarian crises lead to disruption of transportation services, changes in the way cities are supplied with food, and increasing wage gaps. Society tends to rally under challenging times, but the COVID-19 pandemic has shown the opposite. Significant social damage is now being recorded, expressed in the stratification of society due to the transformation of people’s consciousness (Bavel et al.). The limitations of the pandemic have prevented people from maintaining contact with one another and have significantly reduced the effectiveness of social ties. If not adequately addressed, the social crisis caused by COVID-19 could exacerbate inequality, discrimination, and unemployment on a global scale. The main problem is the reduction of empathy between people, and an effective solution to this would be telemedicine with remote access psychologists.
Social Consequences of the Pandemic: A Real Perception of the Problem
Social interactions are the basis for constructing the state and its functioning. The absence of connections between people leads to the disruption of society’s primary function of communication and cohesion. Consequently, denying the importance of communication is unwise, which can only strengthen anti-state currents, which will subsequently lead to clashes and protests. Any country must worry about the well-being of its society because otherwise, it will lead to social, cultural, and economic decline (Mofijur et al. 346). Crises and pandemics invariably affect the state of social bonding, and COVID-19 has had a significant social effect because it has increased social distancing due to the characteristics of the infection.
The study will establish signs pointing to the direct impact of the pandemic on society and its economic performance, which increased social stratification. It is worth noting that the study also discusses valuable data on the urgent need to address the loss of social ties. Consequently, the work makes a tangible contribution to understanding the current post-pandemic state. The problem of stratified statehood due to lack of communication seemed distant in 2018-2019 when all countries were in a cultural and financial boom (Darvas 15). However, the study found that the coronavirus affected absolutely all groups of society, which was the main reason for the development of the problem. Other causes include a lack of true empathy due to the derealization of the population, which has failed to develop a true sense of social justice (Saladino et al.). It has been found that not all regions have been able to create a sense of collective responsibility and true compassion.
COVID-19 primarily affected the most minor protected populations, who found themselves unable to cope with the distancing and limitation of work and communication on their own. Pereznieto and Oehler (24) point out that the child population was the most vulnerable group and could not receive timely education and medical care. The authors point out that the lack of communication at an early age leads to the impaired overall ability to communicate and exacerbates the condition of children on the autism spectrum. Mofijur et al. (348) note that transportation and tourism employees who had international connections were significantly affected. His study found that companies suffered losses in this area, and employees were out of work without any social support. In addition, health care workers were severely affected because the workload increased many times over (Sampaio et al.). A cross-country population survey determined that the social consequences of the pandemic bothered people (Osterrieder et al.). The study found a significant decline in ties between people in higher education and between people of child and elderly age.
Denial of Social Problems
Society’s perception of the problems that have come to the surface since the pandemic is unequivocal. However, the social situation does not always get its way, as reviews such as Osterrieder et al.’s paper shows that people are equally concerned about their health. In addition, economic and political consequences also come to the forefront while the social ones do not fully spread. It is reasonably apparent that the pandemic has affected education. Still, not all universities are concerned about the mental state of the student-many institutions think only of financial expenditures and rehabilitation.
More often than not, social consequences are denied in terms of economic motives. Thus, Darvas (25) points out that the increased indices of global inequality should be of a more significant concern than a simple lack of communication. In addition, the author points out that poverty index have increased several times over pre-colonial times. The work of Pereznieto and Oehler (9) indicates that wages in some regions were only $3.2, which is a critical boundary. Consequently, the economic aspect of the problem also exists, and according to some researchers, it overshadows the loss of empathy.
This research study examined social problems because people are the foundation of politics, economics, and culture. The lack of stability in society leads to disruptions that affect the entire structure of the country. Accordingly, economic effects are a consequence because people are unable to interact with each other. Denying the problem of the decline of empathy is a mistaken view because it denies the necessity of human resources for the state.
Lack of empathy can negatively affect the political environment-justice cannot be nurtured in a party that is not prepared to interact. In addition, the decline of kindness is a considerable threat to medicine – nurses and doctors must help people in deeds and words. However, studies confirm that burnout accompanies more and more medical workers (Sampaio et al.). Thus, any denial of the social consequences of the pandemic cannot be justified and is not valid.
Solving Empathy Decline: The Possibilities of Online Support
The best solution to social problems is to work collectively with psychologists and sociologists who can set society on a new path. However, projects to bring back social interactions cannot entirely be undertaken in the continuing need for social distancing. In this regard, Saladino et al. suggest using telemedicine as one of the most convenient and workable support tools. Bavel et al. also point to the potential of this solution, trying to show the need for a parallel and collective change of consciousness. These papers point out that online consultation with psychologists significantly increase people’s responsibility and encourage them to communicate.
The main goal of online counseling is to restore people’s sense of value to their lives in society and spur them to take care of social goods. Achieving this goal is possible using various tools, primarily online format group meetings and conferences (Bavel et al.). In addition, Long et al. propose to reconsider the limitations of honest communication to get only valuable interactions in their lives. The authors point out that this will solve the loss of empathy because it will give value to every act of communication.
Currently, many medical universities are creating unique programs and meetings to provide online counseling. Programs are developed with IT specialists and psychologists and then implemented as apps. Thus, it is an excellent reach to people who seek help at their convenience, and specialists worldwide try to provide support. In addition, various help bots and online articles help cope with stress, and group chats in apps gradually return the understanding of the value of communication (Saladino et al.). Existing online consultation services from health care providers also reduce the burden on staff involved in the red zone. Consequently, such a solution is already integrated into the health care system, and running applications provide support. In addition, help from the government and political parties allow online consultations to be used as another infection control and information support tool.
Limitations of Online Support
Alternative solutions to social problems involve sensible options (e.g., real meetings and rallying around a common cause) and not (loosening distance and denying covid). And while rallying around household affairs like cleaning up co-op areas or creating a co-living and co-walking space brings us closer together and helps, other options do not. While the alternatives offered are not always successful, telemedicine also has its limitations. Its advantages are obvious, but its disadvantages can be discouraging and undermine trust.
Some studies indicate that telemedicine is effective, but they also show its significant disadvantages. Sampaio et al. point out that the number of psychologists who self-refer increases proportionally with their involvement in online counseling. In addition, the authors talk about burnout and other issues that medical professionals are concerned about. Long et al. suggest that digital devices and the online format are inappropriate for older populations. The listed limitations of telemedicine are there, but they can be addressed.
Although the disadvantages seem significant, other researchers point out that this does not offset the benefits of telemedicine. Saladino et al. say this is a cost of their continued offline work and suggest that particular staff be created for online care. Her study also cites statistical and financial benefits of such a solution, and the government uses finances more wisely, and patients don’t get in trouble with insurance. Consequently, the problem with online psychologists’ burnout lies in improper organization, not that this solution is not practical. Furthermore, Osterrieder et al. found that unprotected groups conversely feel better about themselves through the online format because they engage in the modern world. Thus, this solution is the best way to correct the lack of communication and loss of empathy.
Conclusion
Thus, the loss of empathy in society is one of the leading social consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. This problem can be solved by introducing online counseling with psychologists. The problem stems from the disruption of social connections and society’s inability to bring communication back into everyday life. In addition, people who lost their jobs could not maintain relationships with employees in remote employment because of the difference in income and type of work. Online support is an effective tool for regaining social connections because it combines the function of communication in a new environment with practical medical support. To incorporate this solution into the community, people (the reader) can turn to online applications and support their cooperative’s online social projects. In addition, online support should be promoted among their acquaintances.
Works Cited
Bavel, van Jay J. et al. “Using social and behavioural science to support COVID-19 pandemic response.” Nature Human Behaviour, no. 4, 2020, pp. 460–471. doi: 10.1038/s41562-020-0884-z.
Darvas, Zsolt. The Unequal Inequality Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Bruegel, 2021.
Long, Emily et al. “COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on social relationships and health.” Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, vol. 76, no. 2, 2021. doi: 10.1136/jech-2021-216690.
Mofijur, Rahman M. et al. “Impact of COVID-19 on the social, economic, environmental and energy domains: Lessons learnt from a global pandemic.” Sustainable production and consumption, vol. 26, 2021, pp. 343-359. doi:10.1016/j.spc.2020.10.016
Osterrieder, A. et al. “Economic and social impacts of COVID-19 and public health measures: results from an anonymous online survey in Thailand, Malaysia, the UK, Italy and Slovenia.” BMJ Open, 2021. doi:10.1136/ bmjopen-2020-046863.
Pereznieto, P. and Oehler, I. Social Costs of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, 2021.
Saladino, Valeria et al. “The Psychological and Social Impact of Covid-19: New Perspectives of Well-Being.” Frontiers in Psychology, 2020. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.577684.
Sampaio, Mariana et al. “Therapists Make the Switch to Telepsychology to Safely Continue Treating Their Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Virtual Reality Telepsychology May Be Next.” Frontiers in Psychology, 2021. doi: 10.3389/frvir.2020.576421.