Types of Support Needed by COVID-19 Survivors

Many Covid-19 survivors have experienced negative treatment from their surroundings. Instead of receiving support, they live with stigma. Yet, these survivors need help to recover from their illness.

People can offer various forms of support, even simple ones. 70.2% of respondents felt supported when asked about their well-being and able to resume their normal activities. Meanwhile, 29.8% felt supported by seeing or hearing facts about survivors who debunked misinformation or stigma. Similarly, survivors felt supported when given the opportunity to share their testimonies.

A survey conducted collaboratively by Lapor Covid-19 and the Social Intervention Interest Group of the Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Indonesia, involved 181 respondents. They were aged 18 and above, and had been or were currently exposed to Covid-19. Therefore, these survivors had previously been classified as suspected/probable/positive for Covid-19. 56% of them were healthcare workers.

Before the discovery of Covid-19 vaccines and treatments, it was crucial for the public to remain disciplined in maintaining social distancing, washing hands with soap, and wearing masks. This was to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.