PUBLI : Alejandra Caqueo-Urízar, Alfonso Urzúa, Diego Aragón-Caqueo, Carlo Handy Charles et al., “Mental Health and the COVID-19 Pandemic in Chile”, Psychological Trauma : Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy [En ligne], 2020

Abstract

With one of the highest testing rates of COVID-19 in Latin America, Chile conti­nues to record low morta­lity rates from the disease. Several measures such as curfews, cancel­la­tion of large gathe­rings, and closure of schools and busi­nesses have been imple­mented. Against the back­drop of high levels of alcohol/​substance abuse, mental health disor­ders, and inequa­li­ties across Chile, it is likely that levels of stress and anxiety will peak during the COVID-19 pandemic. As key public health responses such as testing, contact tracing, isola­tion and mana­ge­ment of confirmed cases of COVID-19 are being ramped up, it is expe­dient to prio­ri­tize measures to safe­guard the mental health of Chileans.