The Silent Crisis: Unveiling Mental Health Challenges During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The global COVID-19 pandemic has generated major mental and psychological health problems worldwide. This review examined academic papers on the occurrence of mental health issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. Existing literature indicates that individuals affected by COVID-19 may experience a significant burden of mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety disorders, stress, panic attacks, irrational anger, impulsivity, sleep disorders, emotional disturbances, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and suicidal behaviour. Furthermore, various factors are associated with mental health problems in the context of COVID-19, including age, gender, marital status, education, occupation, income, place of residence, close contact with COVID-19 cases, exposure to COVID-19-related information and perception of survival likelihood. The current evidence suggests that there is a simultaneous occurrence of a psychiatric epidemic alongside the COVID-19 pandemic, which warrants attention from the global health community. Future epidemiological studies should focus on understanding the different patterns and timing of mental health problems in various populations. It is crucial to develop and implement comprehensive interventions to address the existing psychosocial challenges and promote mental well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.