Michelle Obama "Experienced Mild Corona Blue"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] Michelle Obama, wife of former U.S. President Barack Obama, revealed that she experienced mild COVID-19 blues last year, CNN reported on the 10th (local time).

In a recent interview with the public magazine People, Mrs. Obama confessed that last year was difficult due to several factors including COVID-19 quarantine and the death of George Floyd.

She said, "Just watching the 8-minute video of George Floyd was painful, and I was also in quarantine."

She continued, "At that time, I needed to acknowledge to myself that I was struggling," adding, "People usually hide the fact that they are mentally ill, thinking that while they are swimming hard underwater, they must not show it above the surface."

Sharing her experience, she advised the American public to have honest conversations about mental health.

Mrs. Obama said, "It is understandable to feel depressed during the COVID-19 situation," and added, "It is unrealistic to think that we can continue to overcome the shocks, trauma, and upheavals we are experiencing without feeling that way."

CNN reported that the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recession have brought a crisis to the mental health of many Americans, and that the deterioration of mental health due to COVID-19 is not limited to Mrs. Obama.

A survey conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) targeting Americans and released in August last year showed that about 41% of respondents reported mental health problems related to COVID-19, and about one-third said they had experienced anxiety and depression.

Mrs. Obama also revealed that she recently received the COVID-19 vaccine. She said, "I encourage everyone to get vaccinated as soon as they have the opportunity."

Earlier, Mrs. Obama first confessed to experiencing mild depression in a podcast she hosted last summer.

At that time, she said, "Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night worried or feeling heavy-hearted," and added, "Even though I try to exercise every day, there are times when I feel very down during quarantine due to COVID-19."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.