Mental health interventions implemented in the COVID-19 pandemic: what is the evidence?

ABSTRACT Objective: to map the evidence on mental health interventions implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: this scoping review was carried out in the MEDLINE/PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Science Direct databases and in the medRxiv, bioRxiv, and PsyArXiv preprints servers using the descriptors “Covid-19”, “coronavirus infection”, “coronavirus”, “2019-nCoV”, “2019 novel coronavirus disease”, “SARS-CoV-2”, “health personnel”, “general public”, and “mental health”. Results: eight articles were selected and categorized into mental health interventions for the population, among which mental health interventions were for people diagnosed with suspicion/confirmed COVID-19 and mental health interventions for health professionals. Conclusion: telemonitoring, virtual games and strategies focused on social support and muscle relaxation techniques, characterized as non-pharmacological and low-cost, were shown as interventions, which, since they are effective, need to be encouraged and included in mental health care practices. RESUMEN Objetivo: mapear la evidencia sobre las intervenciones de salud mental implementadas durante la pandemia de COVID-19. Método: revisión de alcance realizada en las bases de datos MEDLINE/PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, PsycINFO y Science Direct y en los servidores de preprint medRxiv, bioRxiv y PsyArXiv, utilizando los descriptores “Covid-19”, “coronavirus infection”, “coronavirus”, “2019-nCoV”, “2019 novel coronavirus disease”, “SARS-CoV-2”, “health personnel”, “general public”, “mental health”. Resultados: se seleccionaron ocho artículos y se categorizaron en intervenciones de salud mental para la población, incluidas intervenciones de salud mental para personas con diagnóstico presunto/confirmado de COVID-19 e intervenciones de salud mental para profesionales de la salud. Conclusión: se mostraron como intervenciones la telemonitorización, los juegos virtuales y las estrategias enfocadas al apoyo social y técnicas de relajación muscular, caracterizadas como no farmacológicas y de bajo costo que, por su eficacia, deben ser alentados e incluidos en las prácticas de atención de la salud mental. RESUMO Objetivo: mapear as evidências sobre intervenções em saúde mental implementadas durante a pandemia de COVID-19. Método: scoping review realizada nas bases de dados MEDLINE/PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, PsycINFO e Science Direct e nos servidores de preprints medRxiv, bioRxiv e PsyArXiv, usando os descritores “Cov