Despite the trouble and turmoil associated with the advent of COVID-19, overall mental health did not substantially decline when compared with pre-pandemic levels, according to a new study.
Investigators reviewed 137 studies that compared population-wide general mental health, anxiety and depression symptoms in the early pandemic to pre-pandemic mental health assessments. Most studies were from high or upper-middle income countries.
Women’s health stands out
No changes were found for general mental health or anxiety symptoms, but there was a small worsening of depressive symptoms, investigators said. Women were the only group whose symptoms changed for the worse across all categories, but the amount of change was small in each case, they added.
There were also signs that depression symptoms had worsened — albeit minimally — among older adults, along with university students and people who self-identified with sexual and gender minority groups. In addition, a small number of the reviewed studies found higher rates of general mental health and anxiety symptoms for parents.
In contrast, two studies showed that general mental health and depression symptoms improved for people with pre-existing mental health conditions.
Signs of resilience
Although the pandemic has adversely affected many people, the researchers concluded that the results of the review may show a pattern of resilience. Similar evidence that mental health has remained relatively stable since the pandemic’s onset has been found in prior reviews and studies as well, they noted. Yet even so, COVID-19 has affected many people’s lives, they added, with some experiencing mental health difficulties for the first time.
“Pandemic or not, there is a strong need to provide preventive mental health interventions for those most at risk of poor mental health outcomes,” the authors wrote.
The researchers plan to update their review as more evidence is collected. Full findings were published in the BMJ.
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