Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health care delivery: A narrative review

Abstract

Background: Mental health care professionals across the globe should be prepared to contain the spread of COVID-19 among clients with mental illness and should adopt appropriate strategies to manage them effectively. Objective: The objective of this review was to summarize the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health delivery. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was done to identify the effect of COVID-19 global pandemic in mental health delivery. Articles addressing mental health concerns of COVID-19 and its impact on preexisting mental illness and mental health care delivery, available free download in English language were included. A total of nine primary studies published from the onset of COVID-19 until 15th July 2020 were referred to prepare this narrative review. Result: There is evidence that patients with preexisting mental illnesses shows increase in stress, anxiety, sleep disturbances and COVID-19 related delusions and hallucinations during this global pandemic. The proposed drug treatment for COVID-19 and the imposed restrictions on the public to prevent the spread of the disease had resulted in exacerbation of existing mental illness or triggered new mental illness. Conclusion: There should be more research coming up to understand the real effect of COVID-19 on mental health care delivery and possible alternatives to global mental health delivery at the time of global pandemic.