COVID-19 and Mental Health in Vulnerable Populations : A Narrative Review
This paper examines the global implications of COVID-19 on mental health, with a focus on four particularly vulnerable populations: (1) unemployed adults; (2) youth; (3) older-age populations; and (4) healthcare workers. Considering the global publ...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Working Paper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
World Bank, Washington, DC
2021
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/586081624019980914/COVID-19-and-Mental-Health-in-Vulnerable-Populations-A-Narrative-Review http://hdl.handle.net/10986/35847 |
| Summary: | This paper examines the global
implications of COVID-19 on mental health, with a focus on
four particularly vulnerable populations: (1) unemployed
adults; (2) youth; (3) older-age populations; and (4)
healthcare workers. Considering the global public health
burden of mental disorders, understanding COVID-19’s
psychological impact on vulnerable populations may provide
policy makers with the information necessary to effectively
direct resources. The paper focuses on these populations
because racial, gender, and social class disparities endure
in most educational and work opportunities.25 Additionally,
health systems and work environments can perpetuate
inequality among vulnerable populations, often leading to
worse health outcomes. Previous pandemics and natural
disasters have exacerbated income and health disparities for
vulnerable populations.25 Similarly, the economic shutdown
may disproportionately affect low-income or racial minority
workers who work in sector most affected by COVID-19. Youth
and older populations remain vulnerable because of factors
associated with their age, whereas frontline healthcare
workers face overwhelmed health systems and a higher risk of
infection. Focusing on these vulnerable populations, the
narrative review summarizes the literature addressing mental
health and the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper is organized as
follows: the next section summarizes current literature on
the psychological impact of COVID-19 on four vulnerable
populations. The following section then summarizes the
findings for each of the populations, followed by a section
discussing those results. The next sections provide an
understanding of the current state of global mental health
and recommend short, medium, and long-term policy solutions. |
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