Corona, Mental Health Conditions, and Other Life Challenges: Overcoming Loneliness in (Post-)Pandemic Times

The COVID-19 pandemic has been described as a new syndemic . People all over the world were affected, but not in the same way. Some groups were more at risk than others. In my contribution to this special issue, I focus on people living with mental health conditions, who in many cases also have to deal with other health issues and socioeconomic challenges. Based on ethnographic fieldwork in two German cities, Berlin and Hamburg, I present the experiences of visitors and staff members of support groups and healthcare providers, who organize and offer community centers and the Assistance in Social Psychiatry (ASP) service. The main questions in this article are: What is the importance of such services for their clients? How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected their experiences? and What kind of strategies have been developed to cope with challenging life circumstances before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic? The main argument is that accessible and holistic services are invaluable to most research partners. Furthermore, peer support helps to prevent loneliness. When services are lacking or limited, such as during the pandemic, this has a negative impact on most participants. Research therefore shows that more of these services are needed to support people in an enduring and effective way.