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As a result of the outbreak of the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, and its declaration as a pandemic by the World Health Organization, global health systems have established measures of social isolation and border closures in order to reduce the spread of the virus. This situation generates anguish and anxiety in the population, which requires urgent measures of support and psychological help.1
Preliminary studies describe that medical personnel suffers “emotional trauma” episodes due to the high risk of infection, protective equipment deficit, overwork, discrimination and isolation, which impacts on their decision-making and correct labor performance. In the general population, post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms have increased from 4 to 41 %, depression is observed in 7 %, and cases of self-medication poisoning have been reported.2
In current situation, technology allows greater access to emotional support, through the use from mobile phone apps, to courses and free online counseling, in order to help understand and control the emotions generated by confinement. Various countries have incorporated services for emergency intervention in cases of psychological crises: in Peru, psychological care and first aid measures have been proposed for health personnel; experts in the field have been called in Chile and Brazil, and recommendations, mobile applications and helplines have been generated, arranged by risk groups, in order to maintain the humanity of the response team, provide clear information and not generating panic.1,3,4 Although apps or remote counseling do not fully replace personal care, their use has shown benefits in chronic diseases, in addition to some advantages: less saturation in health facilities, less exposure to the virus and reduction in the cost of care.4,5
A systematic search was conducted in Android and Apple app stores, as well as Google, looking for apps and online course platforms until June, using the key terms “salud mental”, “coronavirus”, “COVID-19” and “aplicaciones”, as well as their translations into English (mental health, coronavirus, COVID-19 and apps). Those that address mental health as the main topic, that were access-free, created during the current pandemic and that can be used regardless of the geographical area of residence, were registered (Table 1). Although technological support is not yet ideal, efforts are being made to strengthen these services that complement medical care.
Table 1 Apps and online courses about COVID-19 and mental health
| Name | Supplier | Language | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web and mobile phone apps | |||
| Here for You-Snapchat | Snap Inc | English- Spanish | Offers local experts’ information to users looking for mental health-related information. |
| Gestioemocional.cat | Catalonian Health Service | Spanish | Evaluation and access to emotional resources by means of the use of questionnaires. |
| COVID Coach | National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder-United States | English | Exercises to cope with stress and anxiety during confinement. |
| Jenny | Mindful, S.A.P.I. de C.V. | Spanish | It includes a special COVID-19 module that offers the users guidance to deal with emotional symptoms caused by confinement |
| Online courses | |||
| Primera Ayuda Psicológica (PAP) en el manejo de emergencias (COVID-19)-2020 | Pan-American Health Organization | Spanish | Aimed at the general public, it focuses on detection and initial management of psychological emergencies within the context of the pandemic |
| Mental and Behavioral Health: COVID-19 Healthcare Hub | Elsevier Publishing House | English | Aimed at health professionals, it provides training in the main mental health topics |
| Resilience Skills in a Time of Uncertainly | University of Pennsylvania | English | Aimed at the general public, it incorporates resilience into personal and professional life during the pandemic |
| Mind Control: Managing your Mental Health During COVID-19 | University of Toronto | English- Spanish | Aimed at the general public, it provides support to cope with anxiety in times of social isolation. |
| Primeros Auxilios Psicológicos (PAP)-Edición especial COVID-19 | Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona | Spanish | Aimed at health professionals and the public in general, to effectively respond to the emotional impact caused by the pandemic. |
| COVID19: Comunicarnos Sin Daño Durante la Pandemia | Pontificia Universidad Javeriana | Spanish | Aimed at the general public, it addresses communication and how it affects mental health. |
| COVID-19: Psychological Impact, Wellbeing and Mental Health | Maudsley Learning | English | Directed to the general public, it addresses the personal and social impact caused by COVID19. |
| Anxiety in Children and Young People during COVID-19 | University of East Anglia | English | Aimed at health professionals and the general public, it addresses strategies in cases of anxiety in young people. |
| COVID-19: Helping Young People Manage Low Mood and Depression | University of Reading | English | Aimed at the general public to help young people adapt during the pandemic. |
| Motivation and Engagement in an Uncertain World | Coventry University | English | Aimed at the general public to cope with the impact of the pandemic. |
| Managing Mental Health and Stress | Coventry University | English | Aimed at the general public on the effects of social isolation. |
| Work-Life Balance and the Impact of Remote Working | Coventry University | English | Aimed at the general public to mitigate the effects of remote work. |
| Social Care during COVID-19: Coping with Self-Isolation and Social Distancing | The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust | English | Aimed at vulnerable groups’ caregivers, for the management of social isolation. |
The COVID-19 outbreak has shown that comprehensive deployment of an emergency system for psychological intervention is required in case of epidemics, which have negative effects on people’s mental health, even on those without prior mental disorders.5 Today more than ever it is evident that collective effort and comprehensive support will be decisive to face one of the most important health challenges of recent times.
