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Assessing and protecting the mental health of the nation during the COVID-19 pandemic
The outbreak of COVID-19 and the public health measures implemented to slow the spread of the virus have the potential to increase mental illness in the general population. A new research project explores developments in Ireland.
In keeping with the National Action Plan’s aim to ‘minimise the health, wellbeing and social impact’ of COVID-19, a new study funded by the Health Research Board and the Irish Research Council aims to track changes in mental illness in the Irish population over the first year of the pandemic, and identify risk factors for adverse mental health responses during the pandemic. The goal is to provide the Irish Government with practical measures to rapidly respond to the mental health needs of the public during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to be better prepared for any future public health emergency.
What is the issue?
Public health measures designed to minimise the spread of COVID-19, such as restricting social contacts, may have a negative impact on some people’s mental health.
What will the research project do?
The project will identify steps that the Government can take to safeguard mental health during the pandemic.
What will the impact be?
By highlighting measures that can be rapidly put in place, the project has the potential to safeguard mental health at a national level during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lead Researcher Dr Philip Hyland, Associate Professor at Maynooth University School of Psychology, says:
“It is very important to know whether or not the outbreak of COVID-19 has increased rates of mental illness in the general population. By following a large number of Irish adults for 12 months following the outbreak of COVID-19, we will be able to discover what effect it has had on the public’s mental health. We will also be able to identify things that leave people more or less vulnerable to developing mental health problems during this crisis, and these discoveries should help us to be better prepared to protect the mental health of the nation if we ever face another public health emergency.”
Lead Researcher: Dr Philip Hyland, Maynooth University
Other team members:
- Dr Michael Daly, Maynooth University
- Dr Rebecca Maguire, Maynooth University
- Dr Joanna McHugh-Power, Maynooth University
- Dr Frédérique Vallières, Trinity College Dublin
- Professor Mac MacLachlan, Maynooth University and the Health Service Executive
- Professor Mark Shevlin, Ulster University