Evidence library

Longitudinal study led and funded by the MHF where data is being collected from over 2,000 people in every wave across Scotland since March 2020, conducted online by YouGov.

Latest wave show that one year on, the crisis has had wide and deep emotional impacts on Scottish adults: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/research-and-policies/covid-19-scotland-wave-10-key-findings

While the research reveals some positive signs including falling levels of anxiety, from 64 per cent of those surveyed in March 2020 to 44 per cent in February 2021, the overall picture is more mixed.

Loneliness has become much more common, increasing from 11 per cent of those surveyed in March 2020 to 29 per cent in February 2021. Feelings of loneliness have not returned to their pre-lockdown levels at any point over the past year, including when most restrictions were lifted over the summer.

Responses from Scottish adults: • Anxiety about the pandemic has fallen among Scottish adults, from 64 per cent of those surveyed in March 2020 to 44 per cent in February 2021.

• Loneliness has risen, from 11 per cent of those surveyed in March 2020 to 29 per cent in February 2021.

• Fewer Scottish adults feel they are coping well with the stress of the pandemic. In April 2020, 76 per cent said they were coping well and in February 2021, 65 per cent said this.

• Feelings of hopelessness have risen. In March 2020, 15 per cent of Scottish adults said they had felt hopeless about the pandemic over the previous fortnight. In February 2021, 20 per cent said this.

• Ten per cent of Scottish adults surveyed in April 2020 said they had had thoughts and feelings about suicide in the previous two weeks. This rose to 13 per cent in February 2021.

• Young adults (18-24 year olds), full-time students, single parents, people who are unemployed and those with pre-existing problems with their mental health continue to be significantly more likely to be feeling distressed, across a range of measures, compared with Scottish adults generally.