Table 1.

Psychosocial impact of COVID-19 on different strata of society and suggested interventions.

Social strata	Psychosocial issues	Intervention
COVID-19 positive patients and quarantined individuals	• Loneliness • Anxiety •Panic • PTSD • Depression	✓ Secure communication-channel between patient and family ✓ Delivery of progress-reports and discussion with families on further treatment plans through telephone, video-calls, whatsapp, e-mail etc. [56] ✓ Close monitoring of mental state of quarantined persons dusing tools like impact of event scale-revised (IES-R) and through smartphone technology [37] ✓ In-time referral ✓ Psychotherapy by stress-adaptation model [19] ✓ Psychiatric follow-up post-discharge, if needed
Health care providers	• Fear of worthlessness • Guilt • Overwhelming work-pressure • Deprivation of family while being in quarantine • Burnouts • Depression • Fear of infection and outcomes • Uncertainty • PTSD • Substance abuse	✓ Support from Higher authority [54] ✓ Clear communication and regular accurate updates regarding precautionary measures [37,56] ✓ Sustained connection with family and friends through smartphone ✓ Shorter working duration, regular rest period, rotating shifts [37] ✓ Sufficient supply of appropriate PPE [65] ✓ Arrangements for well-equipped isolation wards specific for infected HCPs, insurance-system for work-related injuries [65] ✓ Long term psychological follow-up
Children	• Boredom • Anxiety related to educational development • Irritability • Developmental issues • Fear of infection	✓ Proper parenting ✓ Online classes, online study material ✓ Clear, direct, open and detailed information about disease transmission and precautionary measures ✓ Maintenance of sleep cycle, physical exercise schedule ✓ Educate about proper hygiene practice [66]
Old age	• Irritability, anger, fear, anxiety, cognitive decline • Deprivation from pre-scheduled check-up and/or follow-up sessions •Difficulties in accessing medicines due to travel restriction and lockdown	✓ Home-based physical exercise during quarantine [77] ✓ Sessions via telephone, online video-conference for physician guidance and mental health services [117,118] ✓ Essential drug-delivery system via online approach
Marginalized community	• Depression • Stress • Financial insecurity • Stigma of discrimination • Health crime	✓ Protection of basic human rights [109] ✓ Providing proper accommodation [109,110] ✓Adequate food and waters supply from government and NGO [110] ✓ Affordable health care delivery ✓ Education about social distancing, hygiene ✓ Deploy mental health social worker to address specific need and referral to psychiatrists, if needed
Psychiatric patients	• Hampered routine psychiatric follow-up • Addiction • Violence	✓ Structured letter therapy [114] ✓ Counseling via telephone, online chat ✓ Online based psycho-reduction therapies [116] ✓ Proper supply of prescribed medications