COVID-19 and Mental Health Condition: Insight from the Existing Studies Conducted in Bangladesh

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become the most challenging global issue and spread across all countries, including Bangladesh. Though very few studies identified the mental health condition in different groups of people; however, there isn't yet a thorough description that covers the whole scenario regarding the COVID-19 and mental health condition in Bangladesh. Therefore, the study was designed to review the literature on COVID-19 and mental health to provide a comprehensive scenario of mental health in Bangladesh due to the pandemic. Information on the relevant topic was retrieved from PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Sciences, Scopus and other databases between 2020 and 2025. The most prevalent mental health challenges reported among all population of the study, such as healthcare professionals (HCPs), academic community and people working in public places were loneliness, depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep disturbances. Among HCPs, sleep disturbance emerged as the most significant concern, particularly in nurses. However, physicians and pharmacists experienced greater levels of loneliness, depression and anxiety, respectively. Though female, urban HCPs who work in hospitals or clinics were more affected; however, males reported a higher rate in the case of an academic person like a teacher. The majority of students had moderate to poor mental health status. Risk factors like gender, age, family income and size, residential status, disruption of children’s education and severe academic delays were responsible for the condition. Moreover, some bankers were psychologically stressed due to losing their current job, the fear of infection, etc. Moreover, some wage earners had moderate to severe anxiety and depression due to financial problems, increased price of daily commodities, inadequate food supply, and children's educational loss. COVID-19 also affected the normal livelihood of construction workers, rickshaw pullers, van pullers, waste workers and other day labourers. The findings of the study will help the government to include mental health care in national public health emergency response plans and prioritise interventions for high-risk populations.

Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Journal 29(2): 205-214, 2026 (July)