COVID-19 mental health challenges: A scoping review

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has disordered the lives of millions in an unprecedented way. A state of mental health crisis has emerged across the globe. The lifestyle and well-being of the individual and social integrity have been adversely affected. One-third of US citizens and one in five Indian citizens suffer from depression due to this pandemic. This scoping review aimed to estimate the mental health challenges and their possible solutions in the recent two years (2020–2021). Our search strategy used search engines such as Medline, Google Scholar and PubMed. The search strategy used the MeSH keywords “Mental Health AND Covid-19”. The findings emerged in the following key points: anxiety and depression, social isolation and quarantine, and vulnerable or high-risk groups. Out of 216 articles screened, 20 were found eligible to meet the inclusion criteria. Most of the studies focused on psychological anxiety, stress and mental disorder during the pandemic. Psychosocial assessment and monitoring in the context of COVID-19 should include inquiries about stressors related to COVID-19, like exposure to infected sources, infected family members, loss of loved ones, physical distance; secondary adverse events like economic loss, psychosocial effects like depression, anxiety, psychosomatic preoccupations, insomnia, increased substance use, domestic violence; and indicators of vulnerability like pre-existing physical or psychological conditions.

Keywords

• covid-19
• mental health
• pandemic