Abstract
The situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic has changed quickly due to changing case numbers and changing governmental restrictions indicating that mental health consequences may also have changed rapidly and differed by countries. The aim of our study was to describe and map changes in the scores of depression, anxiety, perceived and post-traumatic stress, and the use of alcohol in Estonia during the COVID-19 pandemic. The three waves of data collection were conducted (N = 202) in spring (T1), summer (T2) and fall (T3) in 2020. The survey included information about the study, a set of demographic, health and wellness questions, and a set of self-reported scales about mental health and wellbeing. At T3 there were a larger proportion of respondents whose Anxiety and Fatigue scores were above the cut-off point compared to T2. At T2 there were a larger proportion of respondents whose AUDIT-C score was above the cut-off point compared to T3. At T1 there was a larger proportion of respondents whose Agoraphobia and panic score was above the cut-off point compared to T3. This is the first Estonian longitudinal study mapping changes in mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Highlights
Many countries face challenges in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
At T1 and T2 only some respondents (n = 3 and n = 2, respectively) answered that someone they know had been diagnosed positive in COVID-19 but at T3 already 38% respondents indicated that their family member or someone they know had and 18% that they are currently COVID-19 positive
T1 data collection was conducted when the State of Emergency (SoE) in Estonia was in force during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic, T2 after the SoE ended and T3 when the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic was in increase
Summary
Many countries face challenges in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, mental health has been addressed as one of the research priorities (Holmes et al 2020). It is important to document, if and what changes there have been in people’s mental health since the beginning of and during the ongoing pandemic. The situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic in different countries has changed quickly due to changing case numbers, changing governmental restrictions (Hale et al 2020), habituation or change in media coverage. This indicates that mental health consequences may have changed rapidly and differed by countries
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