Mental health impacts of COVID-19: A retrospective analysis of dynamic modelling projections for Australia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In early 2020, we developed a dynamic model to support policy responses aimed at mitigating the adverse mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. As the pandemic has progressed, it has become clear that our initial model forecasts overestimated the impacts of infection control measures (lockdowns, physical distancing, etc.) on suicide, intentional self-harm hospitalisation, and mental health-related emergency department (ED) presentation rates.

Methods

Potential explanations for the divergence of our model predictions from observed outcomes were assessed by comparing simulation results for a set of progressively more refined models with data on the prevalence of moderate to very high psychological distress and numbers of suicides, intentional se

SUBMITTER: Skinner A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10998102 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature