The psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Pakistani population: Managing challenges through mental health services

Abstract

The Novel Coronavirus which causes COVID-19 is the ongoing global public health emergency and the greatest challenge we are facing nowadays. Wuhan, Hubei, China was the place where this disease was first recognized in December 2019. On March 11, 2020, this disease was declared a pandemic by World Health Organization (WHO). It also has been announced as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on January 30, 2020 by World Health Organization (WHO) [1]. As of 15th May 2020, the novel Coronavirus has affected more than 4,527,165 people around the world and has taken more than 303,416 lives and has spread to more than 210 countries and territories. By February 2020, the Coronavirus was confirmed to have reached in Pakistan and there were 37218 total cases, 10,155 recoveries and 803 deaths as of 15th May 2020 [2]. In order to control this situation, the Government of Pakistan has issued a series of national and provincial guidelines such as limiting travel, social distancing, strict quarantine measures and closure of educational institutes all over the country and these guidelines have been disseminated on various channels successfully [3].