The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of specific vulnerable groups in the context of the sustainable development goals

In a global phenomenon unseen in recent decades, severe acute respiratory syndrome-CoV-2 (COVID-19) has swept across entire continents and has stirred immediate global action. This warrants a deeper understanding of the mental health needs of specific populations during the outbreak along with the precautionary measures for promoting physical as well as mental health during the pandemic. This review summarizes the existing literature addressing mental health concerns during outbreaks and the current COVID-19 pandemic among various groups with specific attention to vulnerable groups and the way forward. Literature was retrieved from databases including PubMed (NCBI)/MEDLINE, Wiley Online Library, World Health Organization, UNICEF, UN publications, and Google Scholar. All 33 articles were reviewed. The findings suggest an increased risk for mental health morbidity, especially among the vulnerable groups. As the literature on the subject is evolving, findings from existing literature are discussed with suggestions for the way forward.