Whilst anxiety is a natural and widespread reaction for many of us, the impacts of COVID-19, and the measures to contain its spread, fall most heavily on those with the fewest social and economic resources. For example, forced isolation mostly affects those in:
- deprived neighbourhoods
- insecure jobs and/or low-income jobs
- insecure housing
- single parent households
- abusive relationships
It also acutely affects those with existing mental health problems, whose symptoms may worsen when access to help is limited. This includes when contact with care workers – often the sole source of social contact – is reduced or lost altogether.
The most effective responses are likely to be those that reduce uncertainties around employment and education, provide safety nets for loss of income, and harness community resources to support those already experiencing social deprivation, poor mental health, isolation and loneliness.
Latest responses from the Centre, in partnership with our partners, service users and affected communities and groups
23 Mar 2021 | The COVID Decade: understanding the long-term societal impacts of COVID-19
26 Feb 2021 | Young people's mental health and cash transfer programmes
08 Feb 2021 | World We Got This: Adolescent mental health in a time of COVID
01 Feb 2021 | World We Got This: The Natural Health Service with Isabel Hardman
04 Dec 2020 | Generation Covid - BBC Radio 4
30 Nov 2021 | REACH Diary study takes deep dive into the impact of Covid-19 on youth mental health
24 Nov 2021 | King's researchers awarded grant to explore the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare inequalities
22 Oct 2020 | A mental health epidemic caused by coronavirus can be avoided if we act now
10 Oct 2020 | King's researchers awarded COVID-19 mental health funding
07 Oct 2020 | Mental health and Covid-19: understanding changes through shifting lenses
13 July 2020 | The social underpinnings of mental distress in the time of COVID-19 – time for urgent action
July 2020 | Multidisciplinary research priorities for the COVID-19 pandemic
16 June 2020 I Impacts of social isolation among disadvantaged and vulnerable groups during public health crises
15 June 2020 | Covid-19 and mental health: A window of opportunity for social science