lucknow acknowledging the spike in cases of anxiety and posttraumatic stress and depression due to covid19 the up government has come up with a mechanism to help people in needto help patients and recovered persons tide over any mental health issue the state government has included mental health counseling in the official covid19 helpline our experts will be available online and those in need of help may speak to the counselors additional chief secretary health amit mohan prasad on friday said adding that the helpline number is 18001805145on the insistence of the union ministry of health and family welfare nimhans bengaluru came out with a policy paper titled mental health in the times of covid19 pandemic faculties in department of psychiatry nimhans yc janardhan reddy and ts jaisoorya noted mental health issues following the covid19 pandemic stem from normal people being exposed to extraordinary situations children elderly pregnant women people with preexisting mental illness people living alone and families of those who have died in the covid19 pandemic may belong to this groupthe two also pointed out that the spectrum of problems included emotional difficulties like anxiety depression biological effects like sleep appetite disturbances as well as severe mental illness and substance misuse stating that though in most these symptoms are mild and transitory but a minority may develop severe mental health issues that require additional mental health supportthe who also came out with a policy document to address mental health challenges due to the pandemic fear worry and stress are normal responses to perceived or real threats so it is normal and understandable that people are experiencing fear in the context of the covid19 pandemic stated the opening part of the document