The initial six weeks of lockdown had a significant impact on the UK population’s mental health and well-being, a new study suggests. The findings were published in the journal British Journal of Psychiatry.
In a large-scale longitudinal survey, researchers assessed 3077 adults in the UK for mental health factors, including pre-existing mental health conditions, during three ‘waves’ of lockdown between 31 March 2020 and 11 May 2020.
The findings showed that suicidal thoughts increased over the first six weeks of the lockdown (9.8% by the end of this period). 26.1 per cent of respondents experienced at least moderate levels of depressive symptoms across all three waves. Females, individuals aged 18-29 years, those coming from more socially disadvantaged backgrounds and those with pre-existing mental health condition were likely to have worse mental health outcomes.
Professor Rory O’Connor from the University of Glasgow, who led the study said: "While public health measures, such as lockdown, have been necessary to protect the general population, we know the effects of COVID-19 on the population’s mental health and wellbeing are likely to be profound and long-lasting."
