Psychological distress, loneliness, alcohol use and suicidality in New Zealanders with mental illness during a strict COVID-19 lockdown.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

People with pre-existing mental health conditions may have been disproportionally impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health restrictions. In this study, we compared psychological outcomes, experiences and sources of stress over the pandemic lockdown in New Zealanders with and without a previous diagnosis of mental illness.

Methods

Two online surveys were conducted in New Zealand over the level 4 lockdown in April 2020 measuring psychological distress, anxiety, well-being, suicidality, alcohol use and subjective experiences. They included 3389 participants, of whom 18.4% reported having been previously diagnosed with a mental illness.

Results

During the lockdown, people previously diagnosed with a mental illness had about twice the ris

SUBMITTER: Bell C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9218412 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature