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
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
26 May 2020 I REACH Study to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on mental health in young people
20 May 2020 I Mutual aid and the kindness of strangers
29 April 2020 I How people and policy can protect mental health during the lockdown
29 April 2020 I We need to mobilise communities and address the causes of mental ill health in our response to COVID-19
29 April 2020 I World We Got This: Mental Health and COVID
08 April 2020 | Mental Health and Social Change in the time of COVID-19