The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered vast government-mandated lockdowns. How do these measures affect our mental health?

To address this question, our Ageing, Behavioural and Mental Wellness research group (Prof. Connie Chong, Prof. Ho Yu Cheng and Prof. Wai Tong Chien), together with an international research team led by Prof. Andrew Gloster of the University of Basel, conducted an online survey participating by almost 10,000 people from 78 countries or regions to investigate their mental health during the COVID-19 lockdown.

One in ten respondents reported low levels of mental health, including negative affect, stress, depressive behaviours and a pessimistic view of society. Another 50% had only moderate mental health.

Findings suggest that public health initiatives should target people without social support and those whose finances worsen as a result of the lockdown. Interventions that promote psychological flexibility may mitigate the impact of the pandemic. Results have been published in the international journal PLOS One, and a media press has been published in the News-Medical.net.

Full study report: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0244809
Media press: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20210107/Study-addresses-how-to-mitigate-the-mental-health-impact-of-Covid-19-lockdown.aspx