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Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have a potentially serious effect on mental health and increase the risk of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorders in people. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of psychological illness and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Libyan population’s mental health. Method A cross-sectional survey, conducted in both online and paper modes and consisting of five sections, was completed in more than 30 cities and towns across Libya. The first section consisted of questions on basic demographic characteristics. The second section contained a survey related to the lockdown status, activities, related stress levels, and quarantine. The third section comprised the self-administered 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). The fourth section contained the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), and the fifth section contained the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). Result Of the 31,557 respondents, 4,280 (13.6%) reported severe depressive symptoms, with a mean [standard deviation (SD)] PHQ-9 score of 8.32 (5.44); 1,767 (5.6%) reported severe anxiety symptoms, with a mean (SD) GAD-7 score of 6 (4.6); and 6,245 (19.8%) of the respondents reported post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with a mean (SD) score of 15.3 (18.85). In multivariate analysis, young age, being female, unmarried, educated, or victims of domestic violence or abuse, work suspension during the pandemic, and having increased workload, financial issues, suicidal thoughts, or a family member with or hospitalized due to COVID-19 were significantly associated with a high likelihood of depressive and anxiety symptoms, as well as PTSD. Internal displacement due to civil war was also associated with PTSD. Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first study to analyze the psychological impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and civil war in Libya. Further study on the development of strategies and interventions aimed at reducing the mental disease burden on the Libyan population is warranted.

Detection of oleaginous microalgae with high lipid productivity is a crucial feature for biofuel and nutraceutical production. Therefore, screening of microalgae from different habitats has become highly significant to face the request on these bioresources. Accordingly, the present study aimed to screen the efficiency of biodiesel feedstocks and the ability to accumulate essential fatty acids of four green microalgae (Chlorolobion braunii, Tetradesmus obliquus, Monoraphidium miutum, and Asterarcys quadricellulare), isolated from soil samples of Benha Egypt. Although T.obliquus was the highest biomass productive species (689 mgL− 1d− 1), M. minutum recorded the top of lipid productivity (29 mg L− 1d− 1). Fatty acid profiles of the four microalgae confirmed their suitability for biodiesel production where it recorded biodiesel properties within the limits of international standards. Also, species selection through PROMETHEE and GAIA analysis revealed that C. braunii is the best promising as a potential source for biodiesel production because it has a high saturated fatty acids proportion (39.75%) and shows cetane number (54.99) and low iodine value (100.57) and many other biodiesel properties within the standards limit. In addition, the screened microalgae showed a high percentage of omega fractions in their total fatty acids. Asterarcys quadricellulare and M. minutum recorded high omega-3 fatty acids content of 34.4% and 28.9%, respectively.