The Impact of Mental Health during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic

Purpose: This article aims to review the effects of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic on the mental health of healthcare workers (HCWs) compared to non-healthcare workers and the different treatment options. Method: A PubMed literature search was conducted with search terms “COVID-19”, “mental health”, and “healthcare workers”. Eighteen pertinent articles were retrieved and served as the basis for this clinical review, including Meta-Analysis, Randomized Controlled Trials, and Systematic Reviews. Results: Evidence-based research demonstrates the negative impacts of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the mental health of healthcare workers, leading to increased anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Conclusion: During the global health crisis of SARS-CoV-2, the mental health of healthcare workers was severely impacted. The COVID-19 pandemic has overwhelmed healthcare systems, including HCWs. Direct exposure to COVID-19 patients was the most common risk factor identified across mental health outcomes, such as anxiety, depression, and insomnia