CDM MIND MAP

How did the Covid-19 pandemic with its subsquent lockdowns impact mental health in the UK?

Helena Lindsey, 1SIA2

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and initial period of lockdown on the mental health and well-being of adults in the UK

Impacts of the lockdowns for adults

Mesures taken

Mental Health Policy in England

How mental health care should change as a consequence of Covid-19 pandemic

Consequences after lockdowns

Impacts of lockdowns for children and teenagers

Covid-19 mental health and wellbeing surveillance report Children and young people

Causes of mental disorder triggered by the lockdowns

COVID-19 pandemic triggers 25% increase in prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide

The roots of the concept of mental health. World Psychiatry

Background

What measures are there to provide mental healthcare and what measures were taken by the UK’s government to prevent mental disorders?

Most local mental health funding is not ring-fenced, meaning each Integrated Care Board determines its own mental health budget from its overall funding allocation. Mental health support for adults in England is provided by NHS organisations, voluntary and community sector enterprises, local authorities and independent providers. In the NHS, mental health services can be conceptualised as primary, secondary and tertiary services. However, as part of the NHS Long Term Plan, community mental health services are becoming more integrated.Source : Katherine Garratt, Mental Health Policy in England (2023). Available at: https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7547/CBP-7547.pdf

Were mental health issues recognized before Covid? How much did we know about it?

The origin of the mental hygiene movement can be attributed to the work of Clifford Beers in the USA. The World Health Organistaion (WHO) has always had an administrative section specially dedicated to mental health. WHO dedicated its annual report three main knowledge areas covered by the document: a) effectiveness of prevention and treatment b) service planning and provision c) policies to break down stigma and discrimination and adequate funds for prevention and treatmentSource: J. Bertolote, The roots of the concept of mental health, World Psychiatry, (2008). Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2408392/

How did the lockdowns impact teenagers and children's mental health?

Evidence suggests that some children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing has been substantially impacted during the pandemic. Wellbeing scores between March and July 2021 appeared lower than during a similar period of reducing restrictions in the previous year. Data from across the pandemic indicates that boys and girls have had different mental health and wellbeing challenges. In 2020, young people aged 16 to 24 who lived in the most deprived areas of the UK experienced increases in psychological distress 3.4 times larger than those in the least deprived areas. There was also evidence that children with a probable mental disorder were more likely to live in a household that had fallen behind with payments such as bills, rent, and mortgage. Source: UK Government (2022), Covid-19 mental health and wellbeing surveillance report Children and young people. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-mental-health-and-wellbeing-surveillance-report/7-children-and-young-people

Did covid's lockdowns impact the mental health of adults?

Mental health and well-being were assessed in a convenience sample of 600 UK adults, using a cross-sectional design. Recruited over 2 weeks during the initial phase of lockdown, participants completed an online survey that included COVID-19-related questions. Results showed that self-isolating before lockdown, increased feelings of isolation since lockdown and having COVID-19-related livelihood concerns were associated with poorer mental health, well-being and quality of life. Perceiving increased kindness, community connectedness and being an essential worker were associated with better mental health and well-being outcomes.Source: Ross G.White and Catharina Van der Boor (2020), Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and initial period of lockdown on the mental health and well-being of adults in the UK. Available at: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bjpsych-open/article/impact-of-the-covid19-pandemic-and-initial-period-of-lockdown-on-the-mental-health-and-wellbeing-of-adults-in-the-uk/B600F4200AE36AB5D60EBE831264EA14

What are the consequences of the subsequent lockdowns?

Potential negative effects: -Main educational focus on physical health; focus on social distancing -reduced outpatient visits -restricted access emergency room visits -cancellation or reduction in size of group psychoeducation, group psychotherapy, and peer -support groups Positive effects: -opportunity to emphasise the importance of self-care, coping strategies, and family support -education about mental health effects of COVID-19 could increase overall mental health literacy in the population -efforts to mobilise social support networks Source: Moreno, C. et al. (2020) How mental health care should change as a consequence of Covid-19 pandemic. Available at : https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(20)30307-2/fulltext

What were the cause of declining wellbeing during Covid?

According to a scientific brief released by the World Health Organization (WHO) the multiple stress factors are: social isolation, loneliness, fear of infection, suffering and death for oneself and for loved ones, grief after bereavement, financial worries among health workers, exhaustion has been a major trigger for suicidal thinking, pre-existing physical health conditions such as asthma, cancer and heart disease. Source: COVID-19 pandemic triggers 25% increase in prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide, World Health Organisation (2022). https://www.who.int/news/item/02-03-2022-covid-19-pandemic-triggers-25-increase-in-prevalence-of-anxiety-and-depression-worldwide