Mental Health and COVID-19

As the coronavirus pandemic rapidly sweeps across the globe, it's inducing a substantial degree of fear, worry and concern within the population at large and among certain groups especially, like older adults, care providers and other people with underlying health conditions.

In public psychological state terms, the most psychological impact so far is elevated rates of stress or anxiety. But as new measures and impacts are introduced: Especially quarantine and its effects on many people’s usual activities, routines or livelihoods; levels of loneliness, depression, harmful alcohol and drug use, and self-harm or suicidal behavior also are expected to rise.

In populations already heavily affected, like Lombardy in Italy, problems with service access and continuity for people with developing or existing psychological state conditions also are now a serious concern, alongside the psychological state and well-being of frontline workers. As a part of its public health response, WHO has worked with partners to develop a group of latest materials on the psychological state and psychosocial support aspects of COVID-19.