08 Sep 2020

Research: COVID-19: mental health and wellbeing surveillance report

This report from Public Health England is about population mental health and wellbeing in England during the COVID-19 pandemic. It includes up-to-date information to inform policy, planning and commissioning in health and social care. It is designed to assist stakeholders at national and local level, in both government and non-government sectors.

Key findings:

There is evidence that self-reported mental health and wellbeing worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. The decline was largest in April. There is evidence of some recovery since then, but not yet to pre-pandemic levels.
Mental distress was 8.1% higher in April 2020 than it was between 2017 and 2019.
In April 2020 over 30% of adults reported levels of mental distress indicative that treatment may be needed, compared to around 20% between 2017 and 2019.
Young adults and women have been more likely to report worse mental health and wellbeing during the pandemic than older adults and men.