U.N. Warns Of Global Mental Health Crisis Due To COVID-19

On May 13, 2020, the United Nations (UN) issued a warning that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) could create a global mental health crisis. The UN released this warning, and accompanying recommendations to minimize consequences, in “Policy Brief: COVID-19 And The Need For Action On Mental Health,” as presented by Devora Kestel, director of the World Health Organization’s (WHO's) mental health department.

Reasons for worldwide psychological distress due to COVID-19 include isolation, fear, uncertainty, and economic turmoil. Specific populations of concern for COVID-19-related psychological distress include: first responders and front-line workers, women . . .