Pandemic sees depression rates double

ONS data suggests that twice as many adults in Britain are reporting symptoms of depression now compared with this time last year.

The figures, based on a survey of more than 3,500 adults followed up over a 12-month period, suggest that one in five people appeared to have depressive symptoms compared with one in ten before the pandemic.

Participants were asked to consider the previous two weeks and say how often they had experienced a range of symptoms, including changes in sleep or appetite, a loss of interest and pleasure in doing things, and difficulty concentrating. Almost 20 per cent of people met the criteria for depression, based on their responses, in June 2020 compared with just under 10 per cent in July 2019.

Additionally, 13 per cent of people surveyed had newly developed symptoms of ‘moderate to severe’ depression over the survey period. People under 40, women, people with a disability and those who said they would struggle to meet an unexpected cost of £850 were the groups most likely to show symptoms of depression.

Charley Baker, an associate professor of mental health at the University of Nottingham, said: "It's unsurprising to see these rates of low mood and depressive symptoms emerging...The people highlighted as struggling the most are those who are already more vulnerable to low mood, anxiety and poorer well-being. It's important though to avoid over-pathologising what might be seen as reasonable responses to the current pandemic.”