COVID-19 and mental health: The emergence of care

Abstract

Considering the current global situation, marked by important public health crises and, more recently, the pandemic caused by COVID-19, this article aimed to gather information and research findings on the impact of such crises on mental health. The text presents main concepts related to the new coronavirus and analyzes consequences of measures adopted to deal with scenarios such as the current problem, which involve social distance, quarantine, and isolation, throughout three distinct moments: pre-crisis, intracrisis, and post-crisis. The paper focuses on the repercussions observed on the population's mental health and discusses favorable and unfavorable outcomes within the crisis process. It is finished presenting questions related to the emergence of mental health care provided by Psychology and other health professionals, aiming to reduce negative impacts of this crisis and act in a preventive function.