Citation

Moore HE, Siriwardena AN, Gussy M, Hill B, Tanser F, Spaight R. Am. J. Men. Health 2022; 16(2): e15579883221082428.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/15579883221082428

PMID

35246002

PMCID

PMC8902032

Abstract

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and associated mitigation strategies such as "lockdown" are having widespread adverse psychological effects, including increased levels of anxiety and depression. Most research using self-reported data highlights the pandemic's impact on the psychological well-being of females, whereas data for mental health emergency presentations may reflect the impact on male mental health more accurately. We analyzed records of male mental health emergencies occurring in the East Midlands of the United Kingdom during the first national "lockdown." We computed two binary logistic regression models to (a) compare male mental health emergencies occurring during "lockdown," 2020 (5,779) with those occurring in the same period in 2019 (N = 4,744) and (b) compare male (N = 5,779) and female (N = 7,695) mental health emergencies occurring during "lockdown." Comparisons considered the characteristics of mental health emergencies recorded by ambulance clinicians (Primary Impressions), and the socioeconomic characteristics of communities where emergencies use the Index of Multiple Deprivation. We found that during "lockdown," male emergencies were more likely to involve acute anxiety (odds ratio [OR]: 1.42) and less likely to involve intentional drug overdose (OR: 0.86) or attempted suicide (OR: 0.71) compared with 2019. Compared with females, male emergencies were more likely to involve acute behavioral disturbance (OR: 1.99) and less likely to involve anxiety (OR: 0.67), attempted suicide (OR: 0.83), or intentional drug overdose (OR: 0.76). Compared with 2019, and compared with females, males experiencing mental health emergencies during "lockdown" were more likely to present in areas of high deprivation. Understanding the presentation of male mental health emergencies could inform improved patient care pathways.

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; Female; Male; COVID-19; Mental Health; United Kingdom; Emergencies; Ambulances; lockdown; SARS-CoV-2; Pandemics; Communicable Disease Control; male mental health; ambulance mental health emergencies; health care issues; health inequality/disparity