The impact of the initial and second national COVID-19 lockdowns on mental health in young people with and without pre-existing self-injury, suicide ideation, and ED symptoms

Abstract

Young people with pre-existing mental health problems were appointed as particularly vulnerable to deteriorations in mental health as consequences of the lockdowns, but solid evidence is limited. Using the Danish National Birth Cohort, we estimated changes in mental health from pre to during lockdown in 18-24-year-olds with versus without pre-existing self-injury, suicide ideation, and ED symptoms, respectively. Young people without pre-existing self-injury and suicide ideation experienced greater deterioration in quality of life and mental well-being and a higher proportion of loneliness compared to those without. The changes in mental health in people with versus without ED symptoms were more similar.