Depression doubles during coronavirus pandemic

Twice as many adults in Britain now report symptoms of depression compared to this time last year, figures from the Office for National Statistics suggest.

One in five people was found to have depressive symptoms compared to one in ten before the pandemic.

The findings are based on a survey of more than 3,500 adults followed over a 12-month period.

They were asked the standard set of questions that were used to assess depression.

People were asked to think about the previous two weeks and say how often they had a range of symptoms, including changes in sleep or appetite, a loss of interest and pleasure in doing and concentrating heavily.

Nearly 20% of people met the criteria for depression, based on their responses, in June 2020 compared to just under 10% between July 2019 and March 2020.

Although the measure of depression used is a well-known screening questionnaire, though, Prof Elaine Fox at the University of Oxford said, “It is important to remember that this does not provide a diagnosis, but an indication of daily depressive feelings and behavior.” .

Severe mental health problems are at least facing pandemics

A small number of people (3.5%) saw an improvement in their symptoms.

Only 13% of the people surveyed had newly developed symptoms of “moderate to severe” depression over the survey period.

People under 40, women, people with a disability and those who said they would struggle to meet an unexpected cost of £ 850 were the groups most likely to see symptoms of depression.

Laura Molding, a 23-year-old recent graduate of Cardiff, had this experience of struggling with debilitating mental health over lockdown, while also managing a form of chronic fatigue called ME.

Although she was already coping with the symptoms of major depression prior to coronavirus, she could not go out or appointments of face-to-face psychiatrists left her feeling ‘the worst I have ever felt,’ she told the BBC.

Pre-Covid found that she went outside and kept herself busy by volunteering helped clear her head.

But about lockdown, she had “dark and intrusive thoughts … I never knew my depression felt this bad”.

Dr Charley Baker, an associate professor of mental health at the University of Nottingham, said: “It is not surprising to see these rates of low mood and depressive symptoms rising … The people marked as the most troubled are those who ‘ t are more vulnerable to low mood, anxiety and less well-being. “

But she points out that not all increases in mental health symptoms will be among people who have clinical conditions.

“However, it is important to practice pathologizing what can be seen as reasonable responses to the current pandemic,” she said.

Stephen Buckley, Head of Information at the Charity Mind, said: “It’s important to keep in mind that most of us have found the last five or six months more difficult than usual, and there is no ‘normal’ way. to respond to a pandemic.

“If you notice changes in your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that affect your daily life, last longer than two weeks, or keep coming back – talk to someone you trust, such as your family doctor. A family doctor would help you can let you know if you may have a common problem with mental health, such as depression and anxiety, and recommend you to support. ”

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How is your mental health affected by lockdown? Has it become less or has it improved? Email: [email protected].

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