MHM Magazine

18 | MENTALHEALTHMATTERS | Issue 2 | 2021 MHM INTRODUCTION It has been a little over a year since the first COVID-19 case was detected in South Africa. At the time, the disease was predominantly shrouded in mystery and humankind was faced with uncertainty. Now, many lockdowns later, we know a lot more – not just about the virus, quarantine and its treatment, but also about the impact of COVID-19 on mental health. In addition to the fear of contracting the virus and the unpredictability of its course, there are the extensive changes to our daily lives in an attempt to contain the pandemic. Faced with the new realities of restricted movement, working from home, unemployment or reduced income, home-schooling, and lack of physical contact with others, the impact on mental health cannot be doubted. Moreover, it may be argued that in no other disorder can the impact of the global By Christine Lochner* & Clara Marincowitz SA MRC Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, South Africa *Corresponding author ON UNCERTAINTY: OCD AND COVID-19