COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Impact on Population Mental Health

Abstract

The novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) was recognized as pandemic and posed a risk on populations' mental health status. This study aimed to examine anxiety experience, attitudes and perceived mental health care needs of Arabs populations under COVID-19 pandemic. Online cross-sectional study was employed to collect data from Palestinians and Tunisians using a self-reported questionnaire and following non-probability snow ball sampling approach. Descriptive and univariate analyses were applied. Eight hundred fifteen subjects responded, of which 534 from Palestine and 281 from Tunisia and mean age (SD) was 34.07 (11.36) and 27.94 (9.30), respectively. Palestinians and Tunisians showed positive attitudes toward COVID-19 with mean (SD) 4.28 (.47) and 4.17 (.45), respectively. Mean (SD) anxiety score was 2.94 (.67) and 3.30 (.69) in participants from Palestine and Tunisia, respectively and severe anxiety was reported in 6.7% and 16% among Palestinians and Tunisians, respectively. Both Palestinians and Tunisians agreed on the importance of seeking and receiving aid from mental health professionals to combat COVID-19. Attitudes improved with increased education and females showed to have better attitudes and much anxiety than males. Addressing mental health issues is necessary for population under the pandemic of COVID-19 to minimize anxiety level and ensure better mental health status.