STRIKING OUT DEATH-CAUSING COVID FEAR

COVID-19 pandemic has triggered fear, panic, anxiety and deaths across the globe. The figure of deaths caused by COVID-19 is monstrous, but the deaths caused by COVID fear cannot be ruled out. COVID fear or death anxiety is a feeling of terror and despair caused by thinking about death. This research article is qualitative in nature that is based on personal observations and a review of recent research studies in mental health. The purpose of this article is to bring COVID-fear into the limelight and to draw out a thin line between fear and insanity by citing examples. Further, it provides suggestive measures to cope up with anxiety and maintain sanity, as a lot of people had lost their loved ones merely due to panic and anxiety during this pandemic and now anxiety levels are seen to be rising again due to the new COVIDwave and the fear of death has become more pronounced. It is of utmost importance that people must understand the need for sound mental health, which will help them to escape psychological issues causing death. This article deals with how to combat COVID fear and death anxiety through mental health education and different programmes. Lastly, the article enlists certain topics like- Mental Health Literacy, anxiety disorders and management, post-traumatic stress disorder, stress management, stress and anxiety among students, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and suicide prevention that may be included in the syllabi at B.Ed and M.Ed level in teacher training institutes.