Overcoming Mental Health Challenges during Pandemic: Arguing in favour of Incorporation of Community Mental Health in Undergraduate Medical Curriculum

Abstract

The rapid and progressing Covid-19 pandemic is building an upsurge of fear, anxiety and stress globally. Repeated episodes of lock down, physical distancing norms, work from home culture in the new normal scenario, travel restrictions, school shutdown, home isolation and quarantine, bed and oxygen crisis, prolonged hospitalization, post Covid  morbidities and deaths, Covid orphans, loss of job, lack of recreation, loneliness and the others cumulatively are contributing to tremendous stress on individual mental health. Though by definition ‘Health’ includes “mental wellbeing” apart from physical and social wellbeing but the mental health issues have largely been pushed into backstage in this current pandemic conundrum.