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January 2021

What helped the UK cope with the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns?

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What helped the UK cope with the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns?
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Quick read: what you need to know

  • Staying connected to friends and family was the most important coping mechanisms identified by people during the UK’s first lockdown.
  • Gardening and exercise had the biggest association with supporting people’s wellbeing, while following Coid-19 related news had the most negative effects on our wellbeing
  • Different people have different coping strategies. Some of us prefer to problem solve, while some of us try to avoid our difficulties. Others rely on emotional reframing or the social support of their friends and family. 
  • It is important to recognise which strategies are more helpful for our mental health and long-term wellbeing.
  • Research has clearly shown that physical activity such as exercising or gardening has improved mental health and wellbeing during the pandemic. 
  • Some people have also used arts and cultural engagement as a way to cope.
  • There may be long-term impacts on our wellbeing from negative changes to eating, drinking alcohol and gambling behaviours. This is especially the case for those who were already at-risk from these issues. A wellbeing-based recovery will depend on helping people access and choose healthier styles of coping.

 

Close Quick read: what you need to know

Covid-19, coping and wellbeing

Different strategies for different people

How different coping strategies affect mental health

Volunteering

What we eat

What we drink

Arts and crafts

Gambling

Implications for a wellbeing-based Covid-19 recovery

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You may also wish to read the blog article on this document.

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