The Perceived Impact of Isolation on Covid-19 Survivors' Mental Health

The study examined the lived experiences of COVID-19 survivors during isolation and explore its impact on their mental health. The research is a qualitative strategy particularly phenomenological design which deals with deciphering the lived experiences of COVID-19 survivors during isolation. The data were coded and evaluated through thematic analysis. The instruments in the study were informed consent distributed through Facebook messenger, open-ended interview guide questions, and zoom as the medium for interview. The researcher utilized purposive sampling in identifying their participants, COVID-19 survivors, in the study. These COVID-19 survivors were residents of Lucena City, Quezon Province, ages 30 to 40 years old, and underwent 5 or more days of home isolation. As it had been recorded that Lucena City is one of the areas in Quezon Province with a high number of infected individuals. The results revealed that the participants experienced the negative psychological outcomes of being isolated while infected with the virus, such as fear, distress, shock, and inability to sleep. Social connection and support aided the participants to overcome isolation. In view of these results, the researcher proposes to organize and conduct a post-COVID-19 mental health program that fosters social connection,support, and psychological well-being. The program included COVID-19 survivors together with their significant others and students as future researchers. The researcher also suggests having a quantitative study to investigate and assess the relationship betweek social connection and support and its impact on the psychological outcomes initiated by isolation.