Covid-19 Pandemic and Mental Health Issues

Keywords: COVID-19, Mental Illness, Pandemic

Abstract

In January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a Public Health Emergency of international concern. WHO stated that there is a high risk of COVID-19 spreading to countries around the world. In March 2020, WHO declared COVID-19 as a global pandemic. From December 2019 till today (18 June 2020) the total cases have approached to 8,242,999 with the death of 445,535 and the incidence is increasing day by day. From the first case seen in Wuhan, China the virus has been rapidly spreading to most of the countries of Asia, Europe and America with almost all the world population affected directly by the disease or its consequences. The physical, social, economic, psychological, and mental wellbeing of the world population have been affected with this pandemic in its peak. To control this pandemic, most of the resources and manpower are dedicated to the patients with COVID-19 and the health care workers and volunteers who work in frontline. Governments have implemented lockdown modalities with a hope to reduce the burden of transmission in their countries, which has surpassed more than 2-3 months in most countries. The effect of pandemic, lockdown and social isolation approach have risen concern regarding their consequences to the mental health of the general population.

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Author Biographies

Aabishkar Bhattarai, Metrocity Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal.

Medical Officer,

Department of Intensive Care Unit, Metrocity Hospital.

Bijaya Karki, Kaski Model Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal

Medical Officer,

Department of Emergency Medicine.

References

WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19. World Health Organization: Geneva; 11 Mar 2020. https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---11-march-2020

WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard. World Health Organization, Geveva, Switzerland. 18 June 2020. Available from: https://covid19.who.int/

Torales J, O’Higgins M, Castaldelli-Maia JM, Ventriglio A. The outbreak of COVID-19 coronavirus and its impact on global mental health. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2020;66(4):317- 320. PMID: 32233719 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764020915212

Ho CS, Chee CY, Ho RC. Mental Health Strategies to Combat the Psychological Impact of COVID-19 Beyond Paranoia and Panic. Ann Acad Med Singapore. 2020;49(3):155-160. PMID: 32200399.

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Published
2020-06-26
How to Cite
1.
Bhattarai A, Karki B. Covid-19 Pandemic and Mental Health Issues. J Lumbini Med Coll [Internet]. 26Jun.2020 [cited 10Oct.2024];8(1):181-2. Available from: https://jlmc.edu.np/index.php/JLMC/article/view/383
Section
Perspective