Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

July 22, 2020

Mental Health before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Probability Sample Survey of the UK Population

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  • Pierce et al. conducted a web survey of 17,452 people already participating in a UK national longitudinal study and found that population prevalence of clinically significant levels of mental distress rose from 19% in 2018-19 to 27% in April 2020, one month into the UK lockdown. Increases in individual scores on the GHQ-12, a questionnaire used to assess mental health, was greatest among young people (age 18-34), women, and people living with young children.  

Pierce et al. (July 2020). Mental Health before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Probability Sample Survey of the UK Population. The Lancet Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30308-4