Social Stigma COVID-19 More Dangerous COVID-19 Pandemic

One of the emerging global challenges in infectious disease management is addressing coronavirus disease. The coronavirus spread to all countries of the world and Iran and quickly endangered mental and physical health. With the creation of the coronavirus pandemic, human society and the physical effects of this disease also faced widespread psychological effects of this disease, which can be referred to as social stigma. Stigma is an essential aspect of a person's life; Human status, social status, job opportunities, marriage, family relationships and friendships were affected. Although stigma does not directly cause chronic disease, it significantly increases the level of anxiety, which may exacerbate clinical symptoms and even lead to recurrence. Stigmas are highly influenced by environmental information and Internet news.The World Health Organization (2020) states that an almost constant flow of news about the outbreak of coronary heart disease causes everyone to feel anxious or distressed. Therefore, information updates and practical tips should be sought from health professionals and the WHO website at specific times and avoids rumors that cause people discomfort and anxiety. Given that Covid 19 experiences many psychosocial consequences and this reduces their quality of life, the use of psychologists and counselors in the treatment environment to reduce these consequences seems necessary. Also, considering the importance of educational media, especially new media, in increasing awareness and empowerment of society, it is recommended to pay attention to the educational needs of society and new opportunities that new media provide to health educators in future planning. More to be done.