Coronavirus pandemic disrupts mental health services worldwide-- WHO

World Mental Health Day is on Oct. 10, and the COVID-19 pandemic is giving renewed attention to mental health as the world fights the coronavirus. 

Unfortunately, amid high demand during the pandemic, mental health services and resources have been disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Based on a survey conducted from June to August of this year across 130 countries, the report examined how the availability of resources for mental and substance use services has changed due to economic shutdowns that came along with the pandemic.

Results indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic has “disrupted or halted” vital mental health services in 93 percent of countries studied despite an increasing demand as the coronavirus continues to spread.

“Good mental health is absolutely fundamental to overall health and well-being,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the WHO, said in a statement.

Other results gleaned from the report indicate that 60 percent of respondents reported disruptions to mental health services for children, older adults, and women—all vulnerable demographics. Specifically, 61 percent of pregnant women or new mothers saw disruption within resource accessibility....