Integrating Mental Health and Psycho-Social Support (MHPSS) into infectious disease outbreak and epidemic response: an umbrella review and operational framework

IntroductionInfectious disease outbreaks have a substantial impact on peoples psychosocial well-being. Yet, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) interventions are not systemically integrated into outbreak and epidemic response. Our review aims to synthesise evidence on the effectiveness of MHPSS interventions in outbreaks and propose a framework for systematically integrating MHPSS into outbreak response. MethodsWe conducted an umbrella review in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for umbrella reviews. ResultsWe identified 23 systematic literature reviews, 6 of which involved meta-analysis, and only 30% (n=7) were of high quality. Most of the available literature was produced during COVID-19 and focused on clinical case management and medical staff well- being, with scarce evidence on the well-being of other outbreak responders and MHPSS in other outbreak response pillars. ConclusionDespite the low quality of the majority of the existing evidence, MHPSS interventions have the potential to improve the psychological well- being of those affected by and those responding to outbreaks. They also can improve the outcomes of the outbreak response activities such as contact tracing, infection prevention and control, and clinical case management. Our proposed framework would facilitate integrating MHPSS into outbreak response and hence mitigate the mental health impact of outbreaks. Review registrationPROSPERO CRD42022297138.