Coronavirus: UK anxiety levels fall as lockdown eases, but remain far above average

Gradual easing of restrictions has seen depression levels fall among those under 60, writes Harry Cockburn, but the effects of Covid-19 on our mental health are expected to be long-lasting

A woman runs past a mental health mural on the Falls road in west Belfast (PA)

The UK’s largest study into how adults in the UK feel about the lockdown reveals that levels of anxiety and depression have both fallen over the past week, but still remain higher than usual, scientists have said.

UCL’s Covid-19 social study began the week before lockdown started and asks people how they feel about the restrictions, government advice and their overall wellbeing and mental health.

So far the research, which is still underway, has collated responses from over 90,000 adults during the coronavirus pandemic.

The latest analysis indicates depression levels have decreased particularly amongst those under 60, but depression and anxiety remain highest in young people, those living alone, those with lower household income, people with a diagnosed mental illness, people living with children, and people living in urban areas.

The figures also show that life satisfaction, measured on a scale from 0 (not at all satisfied with life) to 10 (completely satisfied with life) has risen from under 5.5 when lockdown was first announced to over 6, but is still lower than usually-reported averages.

Lead author Dr Daisy Fancourt, from UCL’s Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, said: “It is encouraging that levels of anxiety and depression have both fallen as lockdown has eased. However, the levels being reported by participants are still worse than usual reported averages.

“While our sample is not random, meaning direct comparisons to usual averages are complex, we have good representation across demographic groups and all data are weighted to population proportions for key demographics.”

Respondents were also asked to rank how much confidence they had in the government’s handling of the epidemic from one (not at all) to seven (lots).

The researchers report that while lockdown measures have begun to ease in the devolved nations, confidence in their respective governments remains steady at around 5 in Scotland & Northern Ireland, and just over 4 in Wales.

But the difference in confidence between the devolved nations and the UK government has grown, with English confidence currently lowest, at around 3.5. Confidence in governments is lowest amongst those under 30, and is also lower amongst those in urban areas.

Levels of ‘complete’ compliance with lockdown measures have also fallen further, with a greater decrease and lower levels in people with higher household incomes, people in England (compared to Scotland or Wales), and people in cities. But ‘majority’ compliance remains relatively steady, with over 90 per cent of people surveyed still showing a large degree of compliance with the rules.

Thoughts of death and self-harm, experience of self-harm, and loneliness also remain relatively stable but are higher amongst younger people, those in urban areas, those with a lower household income and people with a diagnosed mental health condition.

Cheryl Lloyd, Education Programme Head at the Nuffield Foundation said: “Whilst it is reassuring that levels of anxiety and depression have begun to decrease as lockdown lifts, it is important that researchers continue to carefully monitor the psychological impacts of the pandemic, especially as the social and economic impacts of Covid-19 are likely to be long-lasting.”

The study team has also received support from Wellcome to launch an international network of longitudinal studies called the Covid-Minds Network. Through the network, dozens of scientists and clinicians are coming together internationally to collate results from mental health studies running in countries around the world and compare findings. The initiative will support launching new mental health studies in other countries and show whether actions taken in specific countries are helping to protect mental health.

If you have been affected by this article, you can contact the following organisations for support: mind.org.uk, nhs.uk/livewell/mentalhealth, mentalhealth.org.uk, samaritans.org.