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Review
. 2023 Aug;20(3):64-67.
doi: 10.1192/bji.2023.3.

The COVID-19 pandemic as a catalyst for integrated global mental healthcare and tuberculosis care

Alexander L Chu  1 , Aneeta Pasha  2 , Carmen Contreras  3 , Leonid Lecca  4 , Annika C Sweetland  5 , Jerome T Galea  6
Affiliations
Review

The COVID-19 pandemic as a catalyst for integrated global mental healthcare and tuberculosis care

Alexander L Chu et al. BJPsych Int. 2023 Aug.

Abstract

Mental disorders are common among persons with tuberculosis (TB), and the COVID-19 pandemic has only amplified the mental and physical health consequences of this deadly synergy. Here, we call to attention the immense vulnerability of people with TB to mental disorders during the pandemic and highlight the unique challenges and opportunities that the pandemic brings to the future integration of global TB and mental healthcare. We argue that the pandemic era is an ideal period to accelerate this integration and we provide research and policy recommendations to actualise this urgent need.

Keywords: COVID-19; Tuberculosis; anxiety disorders; depressive disorders; global mental health.

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Conflict of interest statement

A.C.S. and J.T.G. report receiving consulting fees from the World Health Organization for projects on global mental health service integration.

References

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