Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected people by creating a social crisis and trauma.
Methods: In this descriptive qualitative study, adult participants were selected using the snowball method and with the principles of volunteerism. People who tested positive for COVID-19 were contacted by phone and informed about the study, and questions were sent by email or WhatsApp.
Results: Participants stated that they were most surprised and disbelieved that they needed to be quarantined or hospitalized; worried about infecting others in the family; and felt fear, stress, anxiety, hopelessness, pessimism, sadness, and guilt. They also stated that they perceived quarantine or hospitalization as “frightening and experienced anger, despair, anxiety about not being able to recover and death, and felt sad, uncertain, and lonely.”
Discussion and Conclusion: The pandemic created existential anxiety and crisis in all people regardless of the profession, and mental health was negatively affected. When health care workers became infected with COVID-19, they were worried about both getting sick and infecting their relatives and friends. If mental health preventive care services are planned, psychiatric morbidity is prevented and resources are not wasted.
Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; Mental health; Psychosocial nursing
