Fears, desires and concerns surrounding the Covid-19 syndemic and psychic suffering: university outreach experiences in the south of Bahia, Brazil

ABSTRACT

This article analyzes the relationship between Covid-19 response policies, disinformation and psychic suffering drawing on the results of two university outreach experiences conducted in the same region during the same period "Answering Questions about Covid" (TDC), a radio program answering listeners queries;and the "On-line Counselling Service" (PPO), offering emergency therapy during the pandemic. We performed a quali-quantitative analysis of listeners' questions and concerns about the pandemic raised by PPO users on the counselling application form. It is concluded that disinformation aggravated the context of the crisis, leading to a rise in infections, deaths and psychic suffering. The spread of fake news and increase in mental health problems are therefore facets of the same complex phenomenon.