TY - JOUR
T1 - Impact of COVID-19 on mental health in Bhutan
T2 - a way forward for action
AU - Tsheten, Tsheten
AU - Chateau, Dan
AU - Dorji, Nima
AU - Pokhrel, Hari Prasad
AU - Clements, Archie C A
AU - Gray, Darren J
AU - Wangdi, Kinley
N1 - © 2023 The Author(s).
Funding Information:
Funding: This study did not receive any external funding. KW is funded by Australian National Health and Medical Research Council 2021 Investigator Grant ( 2008697 ).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s)
PY - 2023/3
Y1 - 2023/3
N2 - The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to impact mental health and wellbeing globally. There is a lack of scientific documentation highlighting the mental health impact of COVID-19 in Bhutan. We present the mental health burdens and control measures taken, and suggest ways to further strengthen mental health services in Bhutan. During the pandemic, a rise in depression and anxiety had been reported in Bhutan. Depression rose from an average prevalence of 9 per 10,000 between 2011 and 2019 to 16 per 10,000 in 2020 and 32 per 10,000 in 2021. Similarly, anxiety rose from an average prevalence of 18 per 10,000, to 29 per 10,000 in 2020, and 55 per 10,000 in 2021. Psychological impacts related to isolation due to lockdowns, economic losses, and poor coping abilities were associated with negative outcomes. Stigma and discrimination towards mental health disorders discouraged mentally distressed people from seeking care. In response to increased demand, Bhutan's government initiated a range of interventions including home delivery of medicines and tele-counselling to people in need of urgent mental health care. Mental health care in Bhutan can be further improved through investment in services and human resources, and decentralization of services to the community.
AB - The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to impact mental health and wellbeing globally. There is a lack of scientific documentation highlighting the mental health impact of COVID-19 in Bhutan. We present the mental health burdens and control measures taken, and suggest ways to further strengthen mental health services in Bhutan. During the pandemic, a rise in depression and anxiety had been reported in Bhutan. Depression rose from an average prevalence of 9 per 10,000 between 2011 and 2019 to 16 per 10,000 in 2020 and 32 per 10,000 in 2021. Similarly, anxiety rose from an average prevalence of 18 per 10,000, to 29 per 10,000 in 2020, and 55 per 10,000 in 2021. Psychological impacts related to isolation due to lockdowns, economic losses, and poor coping abilities were associated with negative outcomes. Stigma and discrimination towards mental health disorders discouraged mentally distressed people from seeking care. In response to increased demand, Bhutan's government initiated a range of interventions including home delivery of medicines and tele-counselling to people in need of urgent mental health care. Mental health care in Bhutan can be further improved through investment in services and human resources, and decentralization of services to the community.
KW - Bhutan
KW - Control
KW - COVID-19
KW - Gross national happiness
KW - Mental health
KW - Wellbeing
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85151458380&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.lansea.2023.100179
DO - 10.1016/j.lansea.2023.100179
M3 - Review article
C2 - 37020787
SN - 2772-3682
VL - 11
SP - 1
EP - 9
JO - The Lancet regional health. Southeast Asia
JF - The Lancet regional health. Southeast Asia
M1 - 100179
ER -
