Geriatric Mental Health and COVID-19: An Eye-Opener to the Situation of the Arab Countries in the Middle East and North Africa Region

•This review provides a synopsis of the status of geriatric psychiatry in the Arab countries of the Middle and North Africa (MENA) region and narrates the mental health interventions implemented during the COVID-19 outbreak for both the general public and the geriatric population.•The mental health of the geriatric population in this part of the world is overlooked, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although several measures are implemented to address mental health during the COVID-19 outbreak, these are generally insufficient in targeting the geriatric population.•An effective task force is needed to strengthen the geriatric mental health response to the COVID-19 outbreak at both national and regional levels in the Arab countries of the MENA region. While the detrimental ramifications of the COVID-19 outbreak on the mental wellbeing of the general public continue to unravel, older adults seem to be at high risk. As the geriatric population continues to grow in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, it is essential to explore the influence of this outbreak on geriatric mental health, a topic often neglected. In this review, we depict the status of geriatric psychiatry in the Arab countries of the MENA region, exploring the variations from one nation to another. While some have a null exposure to the field, resources and expertise in other countries range from very limited to extensive. Furthermore, we highlight the measures implemented in the Arab region to address mental health during the COVID-19 outbreak; these tend to be insufficient when targeting the geriatric population. Finally, we provide short- and long-term recommendations to stakeholders that aim at enhancing the mental healthcare of older adults in the Arab countries of the MENA region, particularly during this pandemic.