Global mental health and novel coronavirus: The risk of the 'same' risks.

Globalization (Santos and Rodrígues-Garavito, 2005) is a complex phenomenon that has influenced many instances of societies around the world, including health (Huynen et al., 2005; Lee, 2003). In the mental health domain (Fernando, 2014), the efforts to qualify the discussions and field’s claims and interventions have evolved from critical engagement (Bemme and Kirmayer, 2020).

This critical engagement is necessary, especially in moments that the world is living with the pandemic scenario of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). On the one hand, the context of coronavirus requires careful analysis not to enhance the high level of anxiety and worries or not to banalize the problematic situation. On the other hand, precisely because of this complex scenario in global magnitude, many fronts in the mental health area tends to be obscured and distorted. In this way, Tandon (2020) had an ethical and high position when the editor decided to do not have a special issue exclusively on COVID-19 and mental health because the topic requires continuing coverage.

The editorial published on Lancet Psychyatry (2020) brings up essential aspects that circumscribe the mental health work in the pandemic. The highlights regarding the mature posture to not totalize all mental health sufferings with coronavirus. Despite the specific characteristics and principles involved in mental health promotion in pandemic events that affect a vast number of people (Zhou et al., 2020), the emotional atmosphere of uncertainties and anxiety cannot foster reductionistic perspectives in this area.

Based on the referred editorial, the current commentary aimed to reflect on some aspects of the relationship between mental health and coronavirus context. The base of reflections below has situated on critical perspectives that can crystalize and naturalize ideologies on social and mental health promotion.

The first point refers to the status of poor people and political leaders. Even each social dimension needs to be comprehended in it specifies, attest that any brunt affects poor people can be a way to strengthen the determinism value regarding poverty and sub condition. The occult social value in criticism of political leaders also can naturalize the role and reach of politics in society: politics as synonymous with corruption and personal interests.

Even though many times the above situations occur, crystalize and naturalize them can be a way to foster a hyposufficient condition. According to Fernandez (2011), it is necessary to distinguish determinant factors of determinism perspectives not to promote a condition where determinism ideologies underdetermine possibilities.

Proceeding with the reflections, the hyposufficient status can happen on mental health promotion when it does not consider the specificities of the biopsychosocial model. According to the editorial of Lancet (2020), the trauma experienced in the general public corroborated with the evolution in the psychiatry field: manage mental and physical health on equal footing.

This kind of perspective can be hazardous because it tends to considers both physical and mental dimensions on the same plan. When it happens, the strategies and tools for health promotion can weaken, and even the biopsychosocial model annulled in many proportions.

Finally, the coronavirus pandemic's sensitive scenario can be a valuable opportunity to reflect and advance in many aspects of personal and social life. However, caution is necessary so that the same risks not potentialized by old practices.

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