ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION CONCERNING PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT TO THE PUBLIC AND BUSINESS IN THE EXTREME CONDITIONS: CASE OF COVID-19

Restrictions on personal freedom, work or business loss, increasing financial tensions, limited communication with close people, friction between the people isolated within the household, uncertainty about the future, especially in the context of conflicting information coming from authorities, medical representatives and media reports, and other Covid-19 pandemic related factors are likely to substantially raise the spread of emotional distress and the risk of mental disorders and illnesses. In the context of such unprecedentedly high risks for society to develop mental disorders, it is purposeful to research the aspects of the provision of psychological support to the public in extreme conditions. Given the high number of stressors, an extremely high degree of uncertainty and a wide range of vulnerable social groups (entrepreneurs, pensions, family with children and etc.), the growing tensions in society necessitate the expansion of the scope of psychological support provided to the public. The main purpose of this research is to assess the situation concerning psychological support to the public in the extreme conditions at the national level.