The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted global mental health, marking a notable increase in mental health conditions and substance use disorders. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there has been a 13% rise in these conditions in the last decade leading up to 2017, highlighting the escalating burden of mental health issues worldwide. This rise is partly due to demographic changes and is exacerbated by the pandemic. Mental health conditions are now a leading cause of disability, with about 20% of the world’s children and adolescents affected. Depression and anxiety alone cost the global economy an estimated US$ 1 trillion each year.

A comprehensive review of global evidence on mental health during the COVID-19 era, as reported by Frontiers in Psychology, reinforces these findings. The review employed stringent quality assessment protocols to ensure the reliability of the included studies, further emphasizing the pandemic’s profound impact on mental health across various demographics and regions.

Scientific Reports published a study focusing on the correlation between COVID-19 symptoms and mental health. The study found a significant association between experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and higher rates of anxiety and depression. Those with ongoing or past COVID-19 symptoms exhibited notably higher odds of suffering from moderate to severe anxiety and depression compared to those without such symptoms. The study highlights the direct impact of the pandemic on individual mental health, with women and individuals under 30 showing higher odds for anxiety and depression.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health has been particularly pronounced among women under the age of 30. This demographic has shown alarmingly high rates of mental health problems, including anxiety, depression, and related issues such as alcohol overuse. Several factors contribute to this trend.

Firstly, women, in general, faced a range of health-related socioeconomic risks (HRSRs) during the pandemic. A study conducted by the University of Chicago Medicine found that nearly half of all women, including those without pre-pandemic HRSRs, reported new or worsening HRSRs during the early stages of the pandemic. These included challenges like food insecurity, housing instability, transportation difficulties, and interpersonal violence. Notably, nearly 80% of those without pre-pandemic HRSRs who reported a new HRSR became food insecure. Additionally, the study found that 29% of women reported symptoms of depression and anxiety, nearly twice the estimated pre-pandemic rates.

The KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor also highlighted the disproportionate mental health impact on younger women. Their analysis found that nearly seven in ten (69%) young women aged 18 to 29 reported that the COVID-19 pandemic had negatively impacted their mental health. This is significantly higher compared to older women and men across all age groups. Among mothers, nearly half who said their mental health had been negatively impacted by the pandemic reported not getting the mental health services or medications they needed.

These findings suggest that the pandemic has exacerbated existing inequalities and vulnerabilities, particularly among younger women. The intersection of gender and age, coupled with socioeconomic challenges, has led to heightened mental health risks for this group. The data indicates a need for targeted mental health interventions and policies to address these disparities and provide adequate support for women under 30.

In the UK, the mental health of women, particularly those under the age of 30, has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This trend mirrors the global pattern, with a few unique aspects relevant to the UK context.

During the early months of the pandemic (April and May 2020), UK women reported higher levels of depressive symptoms, anxiety, psychological distress, and sleep loss than before the pandemic. This impact was more pronounced among women than men. There was also an increase in reports of abuse, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts among women compared to men. The levels of psychological distress increased significantly from pre-pandemic levels, with young women aged 16 to 24 experiencing a notable rise in severe mental health problems (source: GOV.UK).

Factors contributing to the decline in mental health for women in the UK include the disproportionate share of household and caregiving responsibilities borne by women during the lockdown. This was especially challenging for working mothers who faced interruptions in their work due to childcare and other domestic responsibilities. The lockdown measures required most of the workforce to work from home, and with schools and nurseries closed, the burden of childcare fell heavily on women (source: King’s College London).

A study by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) found that the mental health of young adults and women in the UK worsened substantially as a result of the pandemic. The inequalities in mental health were exacerbated, with the number of problems reported or the fraction of the population reporting any frequent or severe problems more than doubling for some groups, particularly young women (source: Institute for Fiscal Studies).

Globally, similar trends have been observed. Women, especially younger women, have been disproportionately affected by the mental health impacts of the pandemic. The increase in the gender gap in mental health has been significant, with women taking on greater roles at home and facing challenges in managing work and domestic responsibilities. This has been compounded by the socio-economic and psychological stresses brought about by the pandemic.

In conclusion, both in the UK and globally, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the mental health of women, particularly those under 30, exacerbating pre-existing gender disparities in mental health.