**2. Key Challenges**

The strong conditioned fear and anxiety about a disease potentially lead to often-overwhelming emotional dysregulation and mood changes both in adults and children [3]. Evidence has supported the notion that stress-related disorders not only leave an impact on overall mental health but also leverage neurocognitive predicaments. Indeed, stress is regarded as a significant yet under-appreciated factor in neurodegenerative diseases [9]. The critical challenge is that how we may cope with such growing anxiety differs in people based on their mental health background and the community or support system they live in [10].

The increased number of COVID-19 patients and shortage of staff and limited number of social interactions with physicians or healthcare professionals [11] led to a decline in face-to-face consultations and an increase in telemedicine. This, in turn, has caused elevations in stress levels, especially in individuals with severe mental health problems [12]. Moreover, because of COVID-19, all the elective surgical procedures have been postponed or canceled. They have caused immense stress in people that were scheduled for elective surgical procedures and those who require face-to-face consultations [13]. Some people including (1) older adults or those with a chronic health problem, (2) children and adolescents, (3) those who help with COVID-19 such as first-line physicians and healthcare professionals, and (4) individuals with underlying mental health issues, affective disorders, and substance abusers are expected to experience and may reveal more substantial distressing worries in the present crisis [14].

The above can, in turn, alter one's affective health, cognitive fitness, sleeping, and eating patterns whereby maladaptive motivational structures such as the use of alcohol, smoking, and substance abuse tend to develop. As for the people with pre-existing mental illness, awareness about emerging or worsening symptoms becomes crucial. Individuals' reciprocal care and support and the significance of family function in today's crisis not only help people cope better with such anxiety but also make communities stronger against the COVID-19 physical and mental health burden [15–17]. Apart from all the recommended self-care measures for mental health and stress management, which we will briefly summarize here, the below points may also be of value where applicable. Such advice would include: (1) following the local public healthcare providers' advice and refraining from ill-advised comments, (2) seeking mental health services online or teletherapy where applicable and possible, (3) requesting prescription refills for the next 90 days supply in case one is taking particular medicines and adherence to medication therapy where needed, and (4) raising awareness on self-care particularly in people of a higher risk profile [18]. This would per se increase the risk and subsequent worry that the disease would spread faster and take a higher toll.
