The Mpox outbreak is a public health emergency of international concern: Implications for mental health and global preparedness.

This article focuses on the global public health and mental health implications of the Mpox (monkeypox) outbreak, which has historically affected Central and West Africa and was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by the World Health Organization (WHO). It highlights the recent surge in Mpox cases across African countries and the need for strengthened epidemiological surveillance, equitable vaccine development and distribution, robust public health infrastructure, and international collaboration to contain the outbreak. The article emphasizes the mental health challenges associated with Mpox, including anxiety, depression, and stress, particularly among vulnerable populations such as healthcare workers, children, older adults, the LGBTIQ+ community, and marginalized groups. Drawing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, it advocates for integrated mental health strategies—immediate, intermediate, and long-term—such as telepsychiatry, public education, and mental health integration into primary care to mitigate psychological impacts alongside infection control efforts.