The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic constitutes a worldwide state of emergency that is unparalleled in recent times [1]. Countries all over the world have implemented unprecedented non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) in order to limit the spread of the novel viral disease, including regional- and national-level lockdowns and quarantine. As communities were closing down, concerns were raised about the impact of these interventions on other aspects of public health, including mental health [2]. In the wake of the first phase of the pandemic, evidence of its impact on mental health is emerging. Although limited, most current studies show an increased burden of mental health symptoms among psychiatric patients and healthcare workers and lower psychological well-being in the general population amid the COVID-19 outbreak [3]. Population-based studies have also revealed a high occurrence of self-reported psychological distress during the early phases of the pandemic in different populations [4,5,6].