Worldwide fatalities cross 300,000 mark
WHO’s expert points to isolation, turmoil and fear due to Covid
LONDON: The worldwide death toll from the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) touched 300,000 on Thursday with over 4.4 million people having been infected.
A mental illness crisis is looming as millions are forced into isolation, poverty and anxiety by the pandemic, United Nations health experts said on Thursday.
“The isolation, the fear, the uncertainty, the economic turmoil - they all cause or could cause psychological distress,” said Devora Kestel, director of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) mental health department.
LONDON:A mental illness crisis is looming as millions of people worldwide are surrounded by death and disease and forced into isolation, poverty and anxiety by the Covid-19 pandemic, United Nations health experts said on Thursday.
“The isolation, the fear, the uncertainty, the economic turmoil - they all cause or could cause psychological distress,” said Devora Kestel, director of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) mental health department.
The UN’s observation came as the worldwide death toll from the coronavirus disease crossed 300,000 on Thursday, according to Worldometer. Over 4.4 million people have been infected.
Presenting a UN report and policy guidance on Covid-19 and mental health, Kestel said an upsurge in the number and severity of mental illnesses is likely, and governments should put the issue “front and centre” of their responses.
“The mental health and wellbeing of whole societies have been severely impacted by this crisis and are a priority to be addressed urgently,” she said.
The report highlighted several regions and sections of societies as vulnerable to mental distress including children and young people isolated from friends and school, health care workers who