Current events are a big part of the world around us. They inspire discussions and debates among friends, families, and strangers and keep important issues in the public eye. People also find a great deal of comfort and meaning in their daily interactions with these topics. In fact, most people in our survey think that access to the internet and social media has made them more informed about domestic current events than they were before.
The 2020 Big Events include COVID-19 and its associated social distancing policies; an emerging economic crisis; increasing levels of inequality; and a range of pre-existing sociopolitical crises in many countries. These and other factors have shaped patterns of responses to the pandemic and influenced its potential long term health impacts.
Many people have been forced to re-evaluate their relationships, priorities, and values during these times of change. This has led to new and challenging personal dynamics for many people and heightened feelings of vulnerability. Some of these changes can even lead to anxiety and depression.
As a result, some of the most common underlying risk factors for poorer health outcomes—like drug use, unintended pregnancies and sex work—have increased. Moreover, racialized populations—like Black and Latinx people—are likely to experience greater negative health consequences than other groups. This is because of policing practices, heightened racial tensions and discrimination, and longer histories of oppression and disenfranchisement. Despite these challenges, maintaining effective public health programs is key to decreasing morbidity and mortality during these periods of change.