More than three billion people globally are living under lockdown measures. Many people in recent weeks have begun working from home, if they haven't been furloughed or laid off. Schools have canceled classes. Sporting events and religious services have been called off. Restaurants, retail stores, gyms, bars, theaters and other gathering places have all been shuttered in many countries.

These closures are all attempts to enforce social distancing, an important public health intervention that can help stop the spread and transmission of the coronavirus. However, mental health experts are warning that losing everyday social connections can harm psychological health. And the costs could go up the longer the measures drag on.

Damir Huremovic, a psychiatrist of Northwell Health in New York, told ScienceNews reporters that what worries him is the potential for social distancing to become a long-term event.

He said health problems associated with social isolation tend to crop up when the situation goes on beyond a few weeks. Walling people off from one another for months means the secondary effects of the pandemic, such as recession, social unrest and unemployment, could trigger unpredictable and widespread mental health challenges.

The coronavirus pandemic threatens all of humanity both physically and psychologically.

On March 14, The Lancet, a prestigious medical magazine, published an evaluation of 24 studies looking at the psychological outcomes of people who were quarantined, an extreme form of social distancing, during outbreaks of SARS, H1N1 flu, Ebola and other infectious diseases since the early 2000s.

The review found out that many quarantined individuals experienced both short- and long-term mental health problems, including stress, insomnia, emotional exhaustion and substance abuse. And the factors increasing the risk of psychological problems include quarantines lasting longer than 10 days (which was associated mostly with post-traumatic stress), poor information about the rationale for the quarantine, and lack of access to necessary supplies and telecommunication services.

Though most people living in coronavirus-stricken countries aren't quarantined, other researches suggest even less-extreme forms of social distancing, such as avoiding regular outings and staying at home for several consecutive weeks, might take a toll.

Such isolation is always linked with the feeling of loneliness. The coauthor of the review, Julianne Holt Lunstad, a health psychologist at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, in 2015 conducted a meta-analysis of 70 studies involving more than 3.4 million participants followed for an average of seven years.

Holt Lunstad and her colleagues found out that the likelihood of dying during the study period increased by 26 percent for those who reported feeling alone, 29 percent for those who were socially isolated and 32 percent for those living alone.

However, it's not necessary for all people who are experiencing a period of social distancing to endure psychological illness. Some people, on the contrary, fare better than others during this period, as some of them actually see their social contact increase as families hunker down together. And some people will stay connected through phone calls, text message or joining an online community.

Experts have also suggested scientific and handy measures to improve people's mental and emotional well-being during isolation. Following are some of their tips:

Move around. Physical activity helps ease anxiety and improve your mood by producing stress-relieving hormones called endorphins. In fact, according to a 2018 study published in the Journal of Happiness Studies, exercising for as little as ten minutes can boost happiness. In many countries, people sing on their balconies, which is also a better way to relieve anger and stress.

Keep yourself busy. Engaging in activities that distract you from current events can also be helpful. You can watch your favorite movies and TV shows, pick up a new hobby like baking or DIY crafts, join an online fitness class or enroll in a free online university course. In addition, you can take virtual tours together of museums, national parks and other sites via Google Arts & Culture, tune in to live-streamed concerts and other events.

Check your thoughts. Fear feeds off of negative thoughts and beliefs. So try reframing your thoughts to manage your emotions better. For example, writing down positive affirmations when you wake up or before going to bed can be powerful in rewiring your mindset.

Make time for self-care. When stress heightens, please carve out some time for yourself every day, even when you're hunkered down, to do something that makes you feel good. Whether it's journaling, reading a book, playing with your pet or listening to music. Also, don't forget the critical self-care activities like eating healthy, getting adequate sleep and regular physical activity.

Stay connected with family and friends. Maintaining social networks can foster a sense of normality and provide valuable outlets for sharing feelings and relieving stress. You won't get infected with COVID-19 by talking on the phone, texting or chatting with your family members and friends on social media platforms.

Be there for others. Helping others is also a good way to improve happiness. In China, some people find self-value by organizing donation activities and volunteering to deliver food and other necessities for the quarantined. Similarly, Canadians have kickstarted a "caremongering" trend – where people volunteer to run errands and do chores for those in need. In Spain, group exercise classes are being conducted for quarantined residents on their balconies.