The Global Covid-19 Pandemic,Social Isolation and Mental Illness

Mental health clinicians continue to be focused on the high prevalence of

depression,substance abuse and other negative effects on persons impacted

by the COVID-19 pandemic. Serious and continuing isolation,loneliness,anxiety,

physical illness and grief were commonly experienced,but already marginalized

groups and young people have had higher rates of impact. More recently,we have

learned that the COVID-19 causes mental disorders months after the resolution of

the original sickness. This paper will discuss the impact of COVID-19 in two very

different developing countries: The first is Chile which has relatively high levels of income

and social and health services and the other is Mozambique which is a relatively poor country

with very limited social and health services. Recommendations are made for resolving the obstacles

of isolation and loneliness associated with the COViD-19 pandemic so that afflicted individuals can

experience higher levels of social inclusion