Introduction:

The biological consequences of the coronavirus-2 infection (SARS-CoV-2), cause of COVID-19 disease, have more attention than its impact in mental health.

Objective:

To gather available information about the psychosocial impact of COVID-19 on the population.

Methods:

From March to September 2020, a narrative review was carried out at the University Clinic “Omar Ranedo Pubillones” in Guantanamo. Original articles and systematic review were evaluated. The search was made through specific databases (Pubmed, Infomed and SciELO), web search engine used was Google Scholar and the keywords and links used were: COVID-19 and psychosocial impact; COVID-19 and mental health.

Development:

Social distancing and home-confinement directives (quarantine and isolation) encompass a series of behaviors that generate psychosocial stress and contribute negatively in the psychological well being. The most vulnerable population include: children; elders; people with previous quarantine experience, previous psychological disorders, distorted risk perception, drug addicts, lack of affective ties, precarious economic situation, living in risk environments, and other factors.

Conclusions:

COVID-19 pandemic produce adverse psychosocial disorders in either confirmed or suspected patients, in medical personnel who take care of them and in the population in general. Even though there are many aspects to be clarified regarding the impact of the pandemic on mental health, it is upmost necessary to generate resilience, human enhancement and contextualize caring to the vulnerable groups to minimize the psychosocial impact of the disease.

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