Mental health trajectories among the general population and high-risk groups following the COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland, 2021-2023

Stephanie Schrempft, Nick Pullen, Hélène Baysson, María-Eugenia Zaballa, Julien Lamour, Elsa Lorthe, Mayssam Nehme, Idris Guessous, Silvia Stringhini for the Specchio-COVID19 study group.
Mental health trajectories among the general population and higher-risk groups following the COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland, 2021-2023Journal of Affective Disorders, May 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.05.065

Abstract

Background: Mental health deteriorated during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, but improved relatively rapidly as restrictions were relaxed, suggesting overall resilience. However, longer-term monitoring of mental health in the general population remains rare.

Methods: We examined mental health trajectories in 5624 adults (58% female; aged 18-97 years) from the Specchio-COVID19 cohort, using the Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale-2 and Patient Health Questionnaire-2, submitted monthly from February to June 2021, and in spring 2022 and 2023.

Results: Depressive and anxiety symptoms decreased during one of the pandemic waves, from February to May 2021 (β = -0.06 [-0.07, -0.06]; -0.06 [-0.07, -0.05]), and remained lower at longer-term follow-up than at the start of the wave. Loneliness also decreased over time, with the greatest decrease during the pandemic wave (β = -0.25 [-0.26, -0.24]). Many high-risk groups, including the socioeconomically disadvantaged, those with chronic conditions and those living alone, experienced lower levels of mental health throughout the study period. Women and young people experienced a more rapid improvement in their mental health during the pandemic wave. Trajectories of loneliness were associated with mental health trajectories throughout the study period.

Limitations: We cannot definitively conclude that the changes observed in terms of mental health were due to the experiences of the pandemic.

Conclusions: Although there was a need for additional mental health support during the restrictive policy phases of COVID-19, overall mental health improved relatively quickly after the measures were relaxed. Nevertheless, the persistence of disparities in mental health highlights the need for further efforts by public authorities and health professionals to support vulnerable groups beyond the pandemic.

Link to the article in English