Research snapshot: COVID-19 and mental health: A review of the existing literature
This Research Snapshot looks at the article, "COVID-19 and Mental Health: A Review of the Existing Literature,” which was published in the Asian Journal of Psychiatry in 2020.
Here is a sneak peek:
What you need to know?
- Preliminary evidence suggests that symptoms of anxiety, depression and self-reported stress are common reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic, and may be associated with disturbed sleep.
- Populations at higher risk of adverse mental health outcomes include older adults, the homeless, migrant workers, pregnant women, individuals with existing physical or psychiatric illnesses, health care workers, Chinese students studying overseas and people with COVID-19 and their families.
- Strategies for delivering mental health care during the COVID-19 pandemic include online surveys to assess the scope of mental health problems, online counselling and self-help services, and online materials for mental health education.
What is this research about?
Adverse mental health consequences, including psychological distress and symptoms of mental illness, are commonly associated with widespread outbreaks. This review summarizes the existing academic literature examining mental health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.