Levels of anxiety and depression in the UK both fell last week but remained above the usual reported averages, according to University College London’s (UCL's) COVID-19 social study of over 90,000 adults during the coronavirus epidemic.
The ongoing study, which was launched in the week before lockdown, is the UK’s largest study into how adults are feeling about the lockdown, government advice and overall well-being and mental health.
The study shows that depression levels have decreased particularly amongst those under 60 years, but depression and anxiety are still highest in young people, those living alone, those with lower household income, people with a diagnosed mental illness, people living with children and people living in urban areas.
The figures also show that life satisfaction, measured on a scale from 0 (not at all satisfied with life) to 10 (completely satisfied with life), has risen from under 5.5 when lockdown was first announced to over 6, but it is still lower than usually reported averages.
Lead author, Dr Daisy Fancourt (UCL Epidemiology and Health Care) said: “It is encouraging that levels of anxiety and depression have both fallen as lockdown has eased. However, the levels being reported by participants are still worse than usual reported averages. While our sample is not random, meaning direct comparisons to usual averages are complex, we have good representation across demographic groups and all data are weighted to population proportions for key demographics.”
While levels of 'complete' compliance with lockdown measures have fallen further, 'majority' compliance remains relatively steady, with over 90% of people surveyed still showing a large degree of compliance with the rules.
Thoughts of death and self-harm, experience of self-harm and loneliness also remain relatively stable but are higher amongst younger people, those in urban areas, those with a lower household income and people with a diagnosed mental health condition.
