The Times Australia
The Times World News

.

Most of us will recover our mental health after lockdown. But some will find it harder to bounce back

  • Written by Maree Teesson, Professor & Director of The Matilda Centre, University of Sydney
Most of us will recover our mental health after lockdown. But some will find it harder to bounce back

Australians’ mental health has tended to decline[1] during COVID-19 lockdowns. Record-high calls to helplines such as Lifeline[2] suggest many are currently suffering.

Encouragingly, data from 2020 shows[3] many Australians’ mental health improved once outbreaks were contained.

But an evidence review[4] we released today from Australia’s Mental Health Think Tank[5] shows the reality is far more complex for people emerging from lockdowns.

While many will recover, certain Australians who were hit particularly hard by the pandemic will find it more difficult to bounce back.

Read more: We've been tracking young people's mental health since 2006. COVID has accelerated a worrying decline[6]

Finding the pressure points

We synthesised more than 100 Australian studies and reports about COVID-19 and mental health, to explore who experienced poor mental health and why.

We found the pandemic had a greater impact on some Australians, including children and young people, First Nations people, women, and those experiencing mental or physical disabilities, unemployment or financial stress.

In other words, the pandemic magnified existing Australian mental health inequalities.

Read more: Languishing, burnout and stigma are all among the possible psychological impacts as Delta lingers in the community[7]

We also asked more than 2,000 Australians to describe the pandemic’s impact. People’s generous responses provided clues as to why some groups had poorer mental health.

Rather than fear of infection, Australians described how the pandemic “pressurised” personal triggers for poor mental health by worsening financial stress and reducing social support.

Man in public housing flat looks out the window.
COVID restrictions were isolating and created additional financial stress. Shutterstock[8]

Increased unemployment and financial stress

Australians who lost work had poorer mental health during the pandemic. Many reported these experiences were made worse by stigmatising messages about unemployment:

The government does not see that mental impact of being unemployed and getting the distinct feeling you are seen as scum. (woman, late-30s, NSW)

Increased financial stress was a primary reason for poorer pandemic mental health. Financial stress made dealing with lockdown restrictions more difficult, particularly for families:

Bills keep coming in, real estate agent asks for deferred rent to be repaid in full… daughter needs glasses, other daughter has anxiety and becomes depressed. (woman, 50s, Victoria)

For many, good mental health is closely linked to being able to house[9] and provide for family.

Research showed[10] the burden of stressful lockdown care, including homeschooling, fell primarily with women.

A stressed mum talks on the phone while looking at her computer, with a toddler sitting on her lap drawing
Women bore the brunt of care during lockdown. Shutterstock[11]

On the positive side, receiving the temporary increased JobSeeker payments was associated with[12] improved living standards and lower anxiety.

One person described how,

For the first time in years I was able to pay for essential medical treatment. (woman, 20s, NSW)

However, the removal of this payment was described as “crushing to your mental health” (woman, 20s, Tasmania).

Reduced social connection and support

Our review showed lockdowns and restrictions disrupted Australians’ social relationships and was a leading driver of anxiety and depression for young people in particular.

Restrictions meant they missed out on formative life experiences, such as transitioning to school or university.

Read more: Students are returning to school with anxiety, grief and gaps in social skills – will there be enough school mental health resources?[13]

Young people with disabilities[14] experienced compromised learning outcomes and loneliness.

Adults noted COVID-19 restrictions and isolation measures led to loneliness, loss and disconnection. Participants experienced this isolation across their various social roles:

Being single, the option of dating was eliminated. As a friend, the opportunity to connect with my nearest and dearest was altered. As an employee, I felt disconnected from my work and my colleagues. (woman, mid-20s, NSW)

A respondent with family interstate experienced “affected mental health”, as restrictions “separated me completely from my family and friends who live in Sydney” (woman, mid-20s, Victoria).

Read more: The shifting sands of COVID and our uncertain future has a name -- liminality[15]

Our review showed increases in racial stigma occurred for First Nations and Asian Australians during the pandemic. Added to the stigma of unemployment described above, social stigma isolated people during the pandemic, likely straining mental health.

An Asian Australian man sits, looking contemplative.
Stigma was a further strain on mental health. Shutterstock[16]

National data[17] showed, on average, loneliness reduced once restrictions eased.

However, this wasn’t the case for all. Several people with existing mental health issues described heightened social anxiety in the months after lockdown:

I feel much more emotionally fragile now (and) more socially anxious – being around a lot of people doesn’t feel normal anymore. (man, early-30s, Victoria)

I had a panic attack last week and couldn’t attend when I was supposed to attend my first in person class. (woman, early-20s, Victoria)

What can we do about it?

Our review revealed the pandemic negatively impacted some Australians’ mental health by disrupting their ability to maintain social roles and relationships that had provided a meaningful life structure pre-COVID.

Unemployment meant losing their employed “identity” and prevented them from economically supporting their families.

Read more: It's OK if you have a little cry in lockdown. You're grieving[18]

We need to continue to improve access to quality mental health care. Equally, policy changes outside of traditional “health” domains will also be important to our recovery.

Post-pandemic policies ensuring all Australians have enough income to thrive[19] and are given opportunities to reconnect with meaningful work, education and community (for example, through education scholarships) will protect Australians’ mental health.

These are are essential for our transition into “living with covid”.

References

  1. ^ decline (www.abs.gov.au)
  2. ^ Lifeline (www.news.com.au)
  3. ^ data from 2020 shows (onlinelibrary.wiley.com)
  4. ^ evidence review (mentalhealththinktank.org.au)
  5. ^ Australia’s Mental Health Think Tank (mentalhealththinktank.org.au)
  6. ^ We've been tracking young people's mental health since 2006. COVID has accelerated a worrying decline (theconversation.com)
  7. ^ Languishing, burnout and stigma are all among the possible psychological impacts as Delta lingers in the community (theconversation.com)
  8. ^ Shutterstock (www.shutterstock.com)
  9. ^ to house (www.tandfonline.com)
  10. ^ Research showed (www.bmj.com)
  11. ^ Shutterstock (www.shutterstock.com)
  12. ^ associated with (www.acoss.org.au)
  13. ^ Students are returning to school with anxiety, grief and gaps in social skills – will there be enough school mental health resources? (theconversation.com)
  14. ^ Young people with disabilities (journals.sagepub.com)
  15. ^ The shifting sands of COVID and our uncertain future has a name -- liminality (theconversation.com)
  16. ^ Shutterstock (www.shutterstock.com)
  17. ^ National data (www.abs.gov.au)
  18. ^ It's OK if you have a little cry in lockdown. You're grieving (theconversation.com)
  19. ^ enough income to thrive (mentalhealththinktank.org.au)

Read more https://theconversation.com/most-of-us-will-recover-our-mental-health-after-lockdown-but-some-will-find-it-harder-to-bounce-back-169029

Times Magazine

Building an AI-First Culture in Your Company

AI isn't just something to think about anymore - it's becoming part of how we live and work, whether we like it or not. At the office, it definitely helps us move faster. But here's the thing: just using tools like ChatGPT or plugging AI into your wo...

Data Management Isn't Just About Tech—Here’s Why It’s a Human Problem Too

Photo by Kevin Kuby Manuel O. Diaz Jr.We live in a world drowning in data. Every click, swipe, medical scan, and financial transaction generates information, so much that managing it all has become one of the biggest challenges of our digital age. Bu...

Headless CMS in Digital Twins and 3D Product Experiences

Image by freepik As the metaverse becomes more advanced and accessible, it's clear that multiple sectors will use digital twins and 3D product experiences to visualize, connect, and streamline efforts better. A digital twin is a virtual replica of ...

The Decline of Hyper-Casual: How Mid-Core Mobile Games Took Over in 2025

In recent years, the mobile gaming landscape has undergone a significant transformation, with mid-core mobile games emerging as the dominant force in app stores by 2025. This shift is underpinned by changing user habits and evolving monetization tr...

Understanding ITIL 4 and PRINCE2 Project Management Synergy

Key Highlights ITIL 4 focuses on IT service management, emphasising continual improvement and value creation through modern digital transformation approaches. PRINCE2 project management supports systematic planning and execution of projects wit...

What AI Adoption Means for the Future of Workplace Risk Management

Image by freepik As industrial operations become more complex and fast-paced, the risks faced by workers and employers alike continue to grow. Traditional safety models—reliant on manual oversight, reactive investigations, and standardised checklist...

The Times Features

Is our mental health determined by where we live – or is it the other way round? New research sheds more light

Ever felt like where you live is having an impact on your mental health? Turns out, you’re not imagining things. Our new analysis[1] of eight years of data from the New Zeal...

Going Off the Beaten Path? Here's How to Power Up Without the Grid

There’s something incredibly freeing about heading off the beaten path. No traffic, no crowded campsites, no glowing screens in every direction — just you, the landscape, and the...

West HQ is bringing in a season of culinary celebration this July

Western Sydney’s leading entertainment and lifestyle precinct is bringing the fire this July and not just in the kitchen. From $29 lobster feasts and award-winning Asian banque...

What Endo Took and What It Gave Me

From pain to purpose: how one woman turned endometriosis into a movement After years of misdiagnosis, hormone chaos, and major surgery, Jo Barry was done being dismissed. What beg...

Why Parents Must Break the Silence on Money and Start Teaching Financial Skills at Home

Australia’s financial literacy rates are in decline, and our kids are paying the price. Certified Money Coach and Financial Educator Sandra McGuire, who has over 20 years’ exp...

Australia’s Grill’d Transforms Operations with Qlik

Boosting Burgers and Business Clean, connected data powers real-time insights, smarter staffing, and standout customer experiences Sydney, Australia, 14 July 2025 – Qlik®, a g...