LONDON: There was a three-fold increase in the number of people reporting significant depression and anxiety problems during lockdown, according to a new study.
The study conducted by an international team of experts from universities in three countries -- UK, Austria and Belgium -- also highlighted regional variations in psychological wellbeing which show that socioeconomically deprived areas of the UK reported more severe levels of depression.
The research, which involved scientists from the UK-based University of Sheffield, revealed that during the coronavirus lockdown in April, the proportion of people reporting clinically significant depression and anxiety problems reached 52 per cent, three times more than the pre-COVID-19 average of 17 per cent.
The findings, published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine, also show that the mental health impacts of the pandemic were especially pronounced in younger people, women and those who were unemployed or on low income.
Dr Jaime Delgadillo, from the Department of Psychology at the University of Sheffield and Director of Psychological Therapies Research at Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We are drawing attention to an urgent problem concerning the mental health of the nation."
"Historically, mental health care has been underfunded. Mental health problems are very serious health conditions that can become highly disabling if left untreated.
This evidence calls for policy makers and health services to look after the mental health of the population during this challenging time," Delgadillo said.
According to Michael Barkham, Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Sheffield, the study is evidence that COVID-19 is associated with a mental health crisis.
Dr Christoph Pieh, chief investigator based at Donau-Universitat Krems in Austria, said: "As COVID-19 is a new disease and the worldwide lockdown measures are unprecedented for our generation, relatively little is known about the mental health impacts of the current pandemic.
We conducted this study to examine several indicators of psychological wellbeing and mental health."
The study was a collaboration of Austrian, Belgian and British scientists, led by Professor Christoph Pieh and Professor Thomas Probst at Donau-Universitat Krems, Austria.