Using Mind–Body Modalities via Telemedicine during the COVID-19 Crisis: Cases in the Republic of Korea

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic affected the world, and its deleterious effects on human domestic life, society, economics, and especially on human mental health are expected to continue. Mental health experts highlighted health issues this pandemic may cause, such as depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Mind–body intervention, such as mindfulness meditation, has accumulated sufficient empirical evidence supporting the efficacy in improving human mental health states and the use for this purpose has been increasing. Notably, some of these interventions have already been tried in the form of telemedicine or eHealth. Korea, located adjacent to China, was exposed to COVID-19 from a relatively early stage, and today it is evaluated to have been successful in controlling this disease. “The COVID-19 telemedicine center of Korean medicine” has treated more than 20% of the confirmed COVID-19 patients in Korea with telemedicine since 9 March 2020. The center used telemedicine and mind–body modalities (including mindfulness meditation) to improve the mental health of patients diagnosed with COVID-19. In this paper, the telemedicine manual is introduced to provide insights into the development of mental health interventions for COVID-19 and other large-scale disasters in the upcoming new-normal era.

Positive Impact of Mindfulness Meditation on Mental Health of Female Teachers during the COVID-19 Outbreak in Italy

“…During the early stages of the Covid-19 epidemic, many researchers reported the need to provide interventions to support the mental health of people affected by the Covid-19 crisis [ 15 , 16 , 19 , 87 , 88 ], in particular for healthcare workers [ 18 , 89 , 90 , 91 ] and patients with the Covid-19 infection [ 92 , 93 ]. For this purpose, many scholars suggested the use of mindfulness interventions [ 94 , 95 , 96 , 97 ].…”

Effectiveness of a Community-based Group Mindfulness Program tailored for Arabic and Bangla-speaking Migrants

“…A similar virtual group program has been implemented with the Bangla-speaking community. Accelerated by COVID19, there is emerging international research on the use and effectiveness of mindfulness interventions delivered via telemedicine and online [ 33 – 35 ].…”

National Internet-Based Survey of the Use, Barriers, Reasons and Beliefs of Mind-Body Practices During the Early Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic

“… 3 By mid-March, directives were issued across the United States to close non-essential businesses and schools, and for individuals to shelter-in-place, 4 causing considerable stress and significant disruptions to many aspects of life. With the social isolation and economic hardships related to the spread of COVID-19, as well as shelter-in-place orders, fear of COVID-19, 5 coping with having COVID-19 and/or witnessing loved ones suffer from the disease 6 rates of mental health suffering and psychosocial difficulties also began to rise. 7 , 8 While stress and psychological concerns might be considered normal 9 during an infectious disease outbreak, the long-term consequences may compound overall health and well-being.…”