A1188
Title: Isolation down under: The mental health impact of Australia's COVID-19 lockdowns
Authors: Mingkui Wen - UNSW (Australia) [presenting]
Andreas Ortmann - UNSW (Australia)
Jane Zhang - UNSW (Australia)
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic led governments to impose prolonged lockdowns. Although effective in reducing virus transmission, these measures raised serious concerns about their impact on mental health. The relationship between lockdown severity and mental well-being in Australia is examined using longitudinal data from the household, income, and labour dynamics in Australia survey (2011-2022). Focusing on New South Wales and Victoria, a difference-in-differences framework is employed to compare mental health outcomes across local government areas distinguished by their lockdown durations. The results indicate that prolonged lockdowns in both 2020 and 2021 led to a significant decline in the mental health index. Notably, the magnitude of this impact is comparable to that of other major life stressors, such as job loss or personal injury. When lockdowns were first implemented in 2020, their adverse effects extended into the following year. However, evidence suggests that individuals gradually adapted, leading to a reduced impact in 2021. As individuals became more accustomed to the lockdown conditions and recovered more quickly, the adverse effects of the second wave lockdown in 2021 were largely confined to that year, with no significant spillover into 2022. These results highlight the need for public health responses that balance virus control with the mental health and social costs of restrictive measures.
