Saúde mental em situação de emergência: COVID-19

This text presents reflections and technical and scientific guidance on the COVID-19 outbreak, a critical emergency situation with social and economic repercussions and implications for the health of populations and of the professionals directly exposedto contamination risks. The main focus of this paper is on the mental health issues involved, considering fear of exposure to the virus and the isolation and confinement policies and quarantine procedures adopted in several countries. Discussions are based on the scientific evidence and inferences presented in Brazilian and international literature with relation to the impacts of COVID-19 on people’s health, especially the most vulnerable groups, and the possibilities for containing, mitigating, and preventing symptoms of mental disorders. Both observed and predicted impacts on the mental health of professionals working on the front line of the emergency situation are discussed.