Little deterioration in mental health linked to the pandemic

A RECENT study published in The BMJ suggests that mental health in the general population has not changed by significant amounts during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to pre-pandemic levels. However, some specific groups, particularly women, seem to have been more negatively affected. The study, which reviewed 137 studies, found that changes in general mental health, anxiety symptoms, and depression symptoms were minimal to small, and no changes were detected in most analyses. Depression symptoms worsened minimally among the general population, while anxiety and general mental health remained unchanged.

only group that experienced a worsening of symptoms across all outcomes, albeit all by small amounts. Depression symptoms worsened by minimal to small amounts for older adults, university students, and people who self-identified as belonging to a sexual or gender minority group. Meanwhile, general mental health and anxiety symptoms worsened for parents.

While the study was thorough, the researchers acknowledge that differences in study design, a high risk of bias in many studies, and a lack of evidence from lower income countries and children may have had an influence, and they suggest caution is needed in interpreting their results.

The researchers stressed that mental