Mental health and COVID-19

Abstract

Background – Mental health care and concerns are usually overlooked when there are limited resources available to contain the pandemic. In this global COVID-19 crisis, mental health issues have increased and became one of the most underrated and widespread health concerns globally. Objectives – This study is an attempt to review the existing mental health concerns in the post-pandemic era through various strategies related to mental health care and global experiences with special emphasis on the context of India. By reviewing existing evidence, this study proposes recommendations and conceptual framework for mental health concerns in the pandemic. Methodology – The researchers have searched through Google Scholar and various electronic databases like PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS, etc. with the search terms like “psychiatry”, “mental health”, “COVID-19”, “Coronavirus”, “SARS-CoV-2”, “anxiety”, “stress”, “depression”, etc. in several combinations. They compiled information from published magazines, newspaper articles, journals, official websites of several NGOs and institutions and web pages, press releases, verified pages on social media, etc. Results – Some of the common health concerns reported were anxiety, stress, insomnia, depression, anger, denial, and fear.