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Mental Health and COVID-19

Mental health and managing isolation during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

Research Study

Exploring the lived experiences of loneliness and isolation with people with mental health problems during the COVID 19 pandemic in the UK

The aim of this research study was to find out about the experiences of feeling lonely or isolated and how they may relate to experiences of mental health problems during the COVID pandemic and more generally.

Lived experience researchers conducted telephone and online interviews with people with lived experience of mental illness to help us understand more about mental health and loneliness and how it relates to COVID 19 pandemic.

It will also help us to do further research looking at how to measure these things, or to develop ways of supporting people’s mental health and reducing loneliness and isolation particularly during pandemics. 

The study was organised by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Mental Health Policy Research Unit, within the Division of Psychiatry at University College London, and the Loneliness and Social Isolation in Mental Health Network, within the Division of Psychiatry at University College London.

UCL Research Ethics Committee have approved this study: Project ID number: 15249/001

Thank you to everyone who has taken part in this study.

Watch an MHTV episode about this research.

Read the first paper published from this research 'Experiences of living with mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK: a coproduced, participatory qualitative interview study'.

Read the follow-up paper 'What has changed in the experiences of people with mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic: a coproduced, qualitative interview study'.

Read the pre-print of 'Exploring the experiences of loneliness in adults with mental health problems: a  participatory qualitative interview study'.

Conversations around loneliness and mental health: What helps and what to do if it doesn't

Cover image of booklet 'Conversations around loneliness and mental health'

As part of the interviews, we asked people what (if anything) had helped them feel less lonely and we have co-produced a booklet to share their words with you.

Download the booklet

Online resources