Besides its economic consequences, the fear from contamination, the psychological effects of lockdown and confinement have had and will continue to have significant impacts on the mental health of populations during this ongoing epidemic crisis of Covid-19. The spread of Covid-19 globally has caused widespread fear and anxiety, primarily because of fears of infection and fear of death, then because of the lasting uncertainties surrounding the nature of the epidemic, its modes of transmission, its degree of ferocity and the effectiveness of therapeutic intervention protocols allowing to save affected communities. It is therefore necessary to distinguish two situations which are often confused: the psychological effects caused by fear of the spread of the pandemic and its ferocity” and those generated by measures aimed to reduce the propagation of the virus. The repercussions of the Covid-19 crisis and confinement have manifested at different degrees within four social and professional categories: (a)general communities, (b) health and security professionals, (c) providers of services during confinement (food, transportation, industries etc.), (d) vulnerable categories including children, old people, people suffering from chronic diseases. Many people, will continue to feel deep anxieties, existential fear, worries about the future during the post-containment phase, while others will demonstrate pessimistic reactions during this phase due to the heightened uncertainty situation. Economically, the restart of economic activities might also face a general state of burnout, that affects the wellbeing, reduce productivity, and refrain the hopes for recovery If all measures taken to limit the spread of Covid-19 aim to protect the public health of populations, then what is the share of mental health in the public policies of the southern countries? How can we ensure a mental health model assuring peoples’ well-being, coping with threats but also preserving productivity? What is the cost of non-mental health? Moderator : Aziz Boucetta, Director of Publishing, Panorapost Speakers : - Parfait Akana, Executive Director, The Muntu Institute; Professor, University of Yaounde II-Soa - Fatima Boutbibe, Neuropsychologist; Director, Center for Cognitive and Functional Exploration and Rehabilitation (C.E.R.C-f) - El Mostafa Rezrazi, Senior Fellow, Policy Center for the New South; Professor of Crisis Management and Forensic Clinical Psychologist - Kholoud Wattar Kassem, Political Sociologist; Founder and President, Lebanese Women Towards Decision Making
