When Thuany Silva, a 32-year-old Brazilian nurse, joined the battle against COVID-19 in Rio de Janeiro in April 2020, she never imagined the virus would redefine her career. After testing positive a month into her frontline work, Silva spent six months battling debilitating fatigue, memory lapses, and anxiety—an experience that inspired her to become a mental health advocate for long COVID sufferers.
Her research as a PhD candidate now focuses on the psychological toll of the pandemic in Brazil, where over 700,000 lives were lost. 'I realized surviving was just the first step,' Silva says. 'Healing minds is the next frontier.' Her work highlights a global challenge: 1 in 3 COVID survivors report persistent mental health struggles, per recent studies.
Young professionals worldwide are increasingly channeling pandemic trauma into advocacy. Silva’s story underscores the need for mental health infrastructure as countries shift from crisis response to long-term recovery—a lesson resonating from São Paulo to Seoul.
Reference(s):
The Long Haul with COVID-19: How I become a 'COVID Psychologist'
cgtn.com
