Documentary about the emotional impact of COVID-19 and quarantine now available for free on Vimeo

LAKE HIAWATHA, N.J. - Aug. 8, 2020 - PRLog -- According to the Well Being Trust, an additional 75,000 people could die due to what they call "coronavirus despair."

In his just-completed documentary, "LOCKDOWN: The Emotional Impact of COVID-19 and Quarantine," New Jersey filmmaker Bob Messinger tackles the short- and long-term psychological consequences of the pandemic and resulting shelter-in-place orders.

Already accepted to screen at three international film festivals, the film includes interviews with noted mental health professionals such as nationally recognized psychophysiology expert and TED speaker Dr. Kim Gorgens; president of the Eastern Psychological Association Dr. Amy Learmonth; and a host of people weathering the crisis.

Messinger says that the emotional impact on individuals and families is an exceptionally under-reported aspect of the pandemic.

"Fear that you or a family member could catch the virus is just one of the common pandemic stressors," he notes. "Isolation, loneliness, grief, disruption in medical services, financial loss, stigmatization and confusion about the disease are among other stressors that could lead to widespread psychological aftershocks, including PTSD symptoms."

Backed by an abundance of documented research and interviews, the film explores the categories of people who are most apt to be affected emotionally by the pandemic and quarantine. Not only does the film chronicle the anticipated emotional effects of the crisis, but it also provides professional recommendations on how to handle the resulting anxiety.

Demonstrating that the emotional consequences of a pandemic and quarantine are nothing new, the film also explores the psychological effects of pandemics as far back at 1348.

Messinger wrote, produced and edited the film completely in quarantine, conducting interviews over Zoom. While he is excited that festivals are interested in the film, he has decided to release the 64-minute documentary on social media to increase its availability to the broadest audience possible.

"Festivals are great," he says, "but they expose your film to a limited number of people. And even though distributors often attend festivals, the distribution process can be long and drawn out. This film needs to be seen now, especially as the crisis escalates.

"LOCKDOWN: The Emotional Impact of COVID-19 and Quarantine (https://vimeo.com/435534513)" can be seen immediately at https://vimeo.com/435534513.



Messinger recommends that people not only watch the film, but that they also share it with as many friends and family members as possible.

"We're all susceptible to the emotional stressors of the pandemic and quarantine. Recognizing the symptoms and taking positive action can help so many of us down the road."