According to the policy brief issued by the United Nations on the subject of COVID-19 and mental health, substantial investment is needed to avert mental health crisis amidst pandemic.

As the COVID-19 pandemic forced the lockdown across the globe, experts believe that it has consequences beyond the economic dip as the whole situation has adversely affected the mental health of masses. Director-General of the World Health Organization, UN health agency, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus shared his concern in these words:

The impact of the pandemic on people’s mental health is extremely concerning. Social isolation, fear of contagion, and loss of family members is compounded by the distress caused by loss of income and often employment.

Millions of people are facing economic instability, losing or at risk of losing their jobs and livelihoods worldwide. Not to mention, constant confusion and speculation about the pandemic, and profound doubt of how long it would last is making people feel insecure and pessimistic about the future.

Some of the major issues reported in census and researches, globally, are of depression and anxiety. Children have been facing behavioral issues of maladaptive nature. Meanwhile, elderly communities who are not able to fully grasp the idea of a pandemic, are facing seclusion. All these issues are affecting the crime rate in the societies, domestic violence, abuse cases of incest, suicide, and passive-aggressive crimes has reached a concerning level.

Following the concern, it is advised by the United Nations to scale up and reorganize mental health services to reach out to the masses on a global scale. For Pakistan, it is high time for some introspection and to deal with the mental health crisis before it's too late.