The COVID-19 pandemic is confronting many people around the world with anxiety, fear and uncertainty. This may relate to their financial situation, social interaction or physical well-being – and there is still no end to this exceptional situation in sight. How is the pandemic affecting people’s mental health? The German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and the Academy of Science of South Africa held the virtual panel discussion “The Hidden Crisis: Mental Health in Times of COVID-19” on 28 September 2020 in order to explore this issue with experts from Germany, South Africa, Spain and Nigeria.