Social isolation in COVID-19 pandemic has the greatest mental health impact on the vulnerable and the disadvantaged.

June 2020

A new review has shown that social isolation caused more mental health problems in certain groups such as children and young adults.

Researchers at ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health at King’s College London found that the impact of social isolation due to public health crises was most prominent for people with multiple disadvantages, for example, those on a low income, in insecure employment, and a part of a minority ethnic group. In particular, the mental health of children and adolescents, especially those with pre-existing conditions, were particularly affected by social isolation due to increased risk of abuse and exploitation. The review described that these vulnerable and disadvantaged groups have greater risk of infection and/or of adverse effects of social distancing. The review calls for more studies to further examine the effect of social restrictions on these groups.

Find out more https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/mental-health-of-the-vulnerable-most-at-risk-from-social-isolation-in-covid19-pandemic