Public mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: Challenges and game plan

Abstract

The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused an unprecedented impact on multifarious domains, including socio-political, healthcare, economic, religious, and various others. Along by, psychological issues such as acute stress, anxiety, and depression have affected the public. With the unfolding of the crisis, we would further witness a change in the way life is looked at and how technology is utilised. This has forced us to redefine priorities, so as to prepare for the current effects, and the aftermath of the crisis. Public mental health which is "the art and science of improving mental health and wellbeing and preventing mental illness through the organised efforts and informed choices of society, organisations, public and private, communities and individuals" has become the need of the hour. [1] Facing the first major pandemic, our generation is experiencing an escalation in mental health problems with the disruption of normal aspects of life. There is not only a diffused distress that all are experiencing, but, also, there are special groups such as the frontline healthcare workers, people at quarantine/isolation, people who have tested COVID positive and those vulnerable to psychological issues who are facing unique stress at this time. People have developed high levels of fear, anxiety, and uncertainty in response to this health threat that is invisible to the naked eye. "Stigma" faced by persons suffering from mental health issues along with the "stigma" related to the pandemic has been a concern for affected individuals.[2] Change in normal routines, adopting to physical distancing, new norms of wearing a mask, practices of hand washing/sanitisation, and maintaining cough/sneeze etiquette have caused worries due to unfamiliarity to these. Adding to these, is the "infodemic" during the pandemic. People are showered with excessive information, and also, misinformation, rumours, gossips, and conspiracy theories. Attempts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic has been disrupted by such "infodemic" and a "collective perceptual bias" further leading to rise in uncertainty, fear, prejudice, disgust, and xenophobia.[3] As we prepare ourselves to face the pandemic and its aftermath, by focusing on research regarding viral transmission and interrupting it, we also need to pay attention to the public mental health dimension. The emergence of psychological issues due to the pandemic such as acute stress, anxiety, depression has brought challenge to the framing of strategies from a public health perspective.[4] Amalgamation of public health and mental health would certainly help in diversion from the harsh routes the pandemic could take. Public health authorities and mental health professionals need to work in liaison with each other to address issues, plan, respond, and mitigate the mental health burden consequent to the pandemic and in its aftermath. [5]