Mental health in biological disasters: From SARS to COVID-19

Abstract

Background: The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), like severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), provokes fear, anxiety and depression in the public, which further affects mental health issues. Taiwan has used their experience of the SARS epidemic for the management of foreseeable problems in COVID-19 endemic. Aim/Objective: This review summarizes issues concerning mental health problems related to infectious diseases from current literatures. Results: In suspected cases under quarantine, confirmed cases in isolation and their families, health care professionals, and the general population and related effective strategies to reduce these mental health issues, such as helping to identify stressors and normalizing their impact at all levels of response as well as public information and communication messages by electronic devices. The importance of community resilience was also addressed. Psychological first aid, psychological debriefing, mental health intervention and psychoeducation were also discussed. Issues concerning cultures and religions are also emphasized in the management plans. Conclusion: Biological disaster like SARS and COVID-19 not only has strong impact on mental health in those being infected and their family, friends, and coworkers, but also affect wellbeing in general public. There are evidenced that clear and timely psychoeducation, psychological first aid and psychological debriefing could amileorate negative impact of disaster, thus might also be helpful amid COVID-19 pandemic.

Development of Psychological Problems Among Adolescents During School Closures Because of the COVID-19 Lockdown Phase in Italy: A Cross-Sectional Survey

“…Keywords: adolescent, COVID-19, mask, psychological problems, SARS-CoV-2, school BACKGROUND Several studies have shown that severe infectious disease outbreaks affecting multiple countries and communities can impact not only physical but also psychological health (1)(2)(3). Although positive changes and cognitive restructuring were described in some cases, generally, a series of negative consequences was evidenced.…”

Dinámica familiar en tiempos de pandemia (COVID -19): comunicación entre padres e hijos adolescentes universitarios

“…La alteración de la rutina puede llegar a provocar problemas de salud mental como frustración por la sensación de dejar de hacer algo, ansiedad y temores (Hsieh et al 2020;Koushik, 2020;Pastor, 2020;Serafini et al 2020), así como otros factores psicosociales relacionados con el estrés y depresión (Apaza et al 2020) además, la pérdida del contacto diario con los colegas y amigos causa frustración y apatía (Brooks et al 2020). El confinamiento genera la aparición de diversas manifestaciones (Dorrance et al 2020), como la frustración por actividades negadas, una sensación de falta de libertad, la ausencia física de los amigos, entre otros; además de otros efectos sociales y económicos, como pueden ser la pérdida de trabajos, de emprendimientos, etc.…”

COVID-19 and mental health services delivery at Ingutsheni Central Hospital in Zimbabwe: Lessons for psychiatric social work practice

“…According to Hsieh et al (2020), SARS affected healthcare professionals more than the general populace. This was attributed to SARS's unique trail of transmission and considering that the virus was mostly concentrated in healthcare settings (Hsieh et al, 2020;Stuijfzand et al, 2020;Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2003;Lee et al, 2003).…”

“…Other issues that affect healthcare workers during pandemics were highlighted by Hsieh et al (2020), Thobaity and Alshammari (2020) and Stuijfzand et al (2020) and they include changes in everyday tasks which can lead to stress, fear of infection, economic loss, lifestyle changes, changes in work schedules and undesirable mental health outcomes (sleep problems, anxiety and suicide). As the pandemic progresses, psychiatric healthcare professionals will have more worries in line with the care of patients in the wake of limited resources and the sufficiency of their own protection from COVID-19.…”