Pandemic linked to rising rates of depressive and anxiety disorders – UQ News

Cases of major depressive disorders and anxiety disorders have increased by more than 25% globally, according to a first global study on the impact of COVID-19 on mental health.

The research, led by researchers at the University of Queensland School of Public Health, Queensland Center for Mental Health Research and Institute for Health Measurement and Evaluation (University of Washington) estimated that people living in countries severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic were most affected, especially women and young people.

The study is the first to assess the global impacts of the pandemic on major depressive and anxiety disorders, quantifying the prevalence and burden of the disorders by age, sex and location in 204 countries and territories in 2020.

Study manager Dr Damian Santomauro said the countries hardest hit by the pandemic in 2020 had the largest increase in the prevalence of the disorders.

“We estimated that cases of major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders increased by 28% and 26%, respectively, in 2020, with women more affected than men and younger people more than older groups,” said said Dr Santomauro.

“Countries with high COVID-19 infection rates and major reductions in the movement of people – a consequence of measures such as school closures and closures – have been found to have the largest increases in the prevalence of major depressive disorders and anxiety disorders. “

Other approaches to this research have generally focused on specific locations over a short period of time.

Dr Santomauro said mental health systems would need urgent strengthening to cope with the significant increase in cases of major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders, but doing nothing should not be an option.

“Support services should be improved by promoting mental well-being, targeting the factors contributing to poor mental health exacerbated by the pandemic and improving the treatment of those who develop a mental disorder,” said Dr Santomauro.

“Even before the pandemic, mental health care systems in most countries were under-resourced and disorganized in their service delivery – so it will be difficult to meet the additional demand for mental health services due to COVID-19 . “

Co-author of the study Dr Alizé Ferrari said the study found that the COVID-19 pandemic had exacerbated many existing social inequalities that predispose people to develop mental disorders.

“Unfortunately, for many reasons, women are likely to be more affected by the social and economic consequences of the pandemic, as they often bear the burden when it comes to additional care and household responsibilities.” said Dr Ferrari.

“Women are also more likely to be victims of domestic violence, which has increased at different stages of the pandemic.

“School closures and broader restrictions limiting the ability of young people to learn and interact with their peers, combined with the increased risk of unemployment, also meant that young people were hit harder by major depressive and anxiety disorders during the period. pandemic.

“It is crucial that policymakers take such underlying factors into account when taking action to strengthen mental health services. “

The study was published in The Lancet (DO I: 10.1016 / S0140-6736 (21) 02143-7) and was funded by Queensland Health, the National Board of Health and Medical Research, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Media: Kate Gadenne, Queensland Center for Mental Health Research, [email protected], +61 (0) 438 727 895; Media from the UQ Faculty of Medicine, [email protected], +61 (0) 7 3365 5118.