Longitudinal analyses of the UK COVID-19 Mental Health & Wellbeing Study (COVID-MH) during the second wave of COVID-19

Abstract

Background Waves 1 to 3 (March 2020 to May 2020) of the UK COVID-19 Mental Health & Wellbeing study suggested an improvement in some indicators of mental health across the first 6 weeks of the UK lockdown, however, suicidal ideation increased. Aims To report the prevalence of mental health and wellbeing of adults in the UK from March/April 2020 to February 2021. Method Quota sampling was employed at wave 1 (March/April 2020), and online surveys were conducted at 7 time-points. Primary analyses cover wave 4 (May/June 2020), wave 5 (July/August 2020), wave 6 (October 2020), and wave 7 (February 2021), including a period of increased restrictions in the UK. Mental health indicators were suicidal ideation, self-harm, suicide attempt, depression, anxiety, defeat, entrapment, loneliness and wellbeing. Results 2691 (87.5% of wave 1) participated in at least one survey between waves 4 to 7. Depressive symptoms and loneliness increased from October 2020 to February 2021. Defeat and entrapment increased from July/August 2020 to October 2020 and remained elevated in February 2021. Wellbeing decreased from July/August 2020 to October 2020. Anxiety symptoms and suicidal ideation did not change. Young adults, women, those socially disadvantaged, or with a mental health condition reported worse mental health. Conclusions The mental health and wellbeing of the UK population deteriorated from July/August 2020 to October 2020 and February 2021, a period coinciding with the second wave of COVID-19. Suicidal thoughts did not decrease significantly suggesting a need for continued vigilance as we recover from the pandemic.