Psychological Interventions for COVID-19 Outbreak in Mazandaran Province, Iran

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused serious psychosocial impacts on individuals around the world (1). The rapid spread of this new and deadly virus of unknown origin mainly through close contact from person-to-person can lead to flu-like symptoms; however, patients’ conditions are unpredictable, and numerous psychological effects can be seen. The critical shortage of masks, gloves, and other personal protective equipment, along with low public trust in healthcare systems and stoppages in businesses, can be all assumed as the causes of these psychological problems and disorders (2). In the same way, like any other disease outbreaks threatening community health, COVID-19 has similarly created challenges for mental health service delivery systems (1). Accordingly, quarantine and isolation, as two measures taken to control this pandemic, can be associated with unpleasant experiences among individuals, including feelings of separation from loved ones, loss of freedom, uncertainty about disease conditions, anxiety, anger, and suicide attempts (3).