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. 2020 Nov:100:431-433.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.09.030. Epub 2020 Sep 16.

Mental health crisis under COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong, China

Sheng Zhi Zhao  1 , Janet Yuen Ha Wong  1 , Tzu Tsun Luk  1 , Abraham Ka Chung Wai  2 , Tai Hing Lam  3 , Man Ping Wang  4
Affiliations

Mental health crisis under COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong, China

Sheng Zhi Zhao et al. Int J Infect Dis. 2020 Nov.

Abstract

Objectives: To compare the mental health burden before and during the COVID-19 outbreak and identify the vulnerable groups by sociodemographic factors.

Methods: We analyzed repeated cross-sectional data from the Hong Kong Family and Health Information Trend Survey (FHInTS) in 2016 (N = 4036) and 2017 (N = 4051) and the COVID-19 Health Information Survey (CoVHInS) in April 9-23, 2020 (N = 1501) using population-based random samples of general adults by landline telephone and online panel. Stress (Perceived Stress Scale 4), anxiety symptoms (General Anxiety Disorders 2), depression symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-2), subjective happiness (4-point Likert item), and sociodemographic factors were collected.

Results: Compared with 2016 and 2017, the stress level increased by 28.3%, prevalence of anxiety increased by 42.3%, and the depression symptoms and unhappiness have doubled (all P for trends <0.001) during the COVID-19 outbreak. The increases in stress levels were significantly larger among older and less educated respondents (P for interactions <0.001).

Conclusion: Hong Kong had a mental health emergency even with no lockdown and well-managed outbreaks. Older and under-privileged people will suffer most. Public mental health interventions are urgently needed particularly for the older adults and individuals with primary or lower education attainment.

Keywords: Anxiety; COVID-19; Depression symptom; Mental health; Stress; Vulnerable group.

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