The mental health legacy of the pandemic
The COVID-19 lockdowns in the UK were unprecedented in scale and impact. They fundamentally altered public behavior and psychology. The way they were implemented has left lasting psychological problems, including mental illnesses.
The government’s messaging and fear-based communication: “Stay home, protect the NHS, save lives” was effective but also instilled a sense of fear and moral responsibility. People were told that even stepping outside could be deadly or cause someone else’s death.
The UK government was criticized for deliberately using fear to control behavior. A member of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Behaviour (SPI-B) later admitted they were “shocked by the use of fear” to influence compliance.
Media amplification heightened the sense of dread. Constant 24/7 news coverage of case numbers, death tolls, and overwhelmed hospitals reinforced a climate of fear. Sensational headlines and worst-case scenario modeling dominated the narrative, which led to disproportionate risk perception, especially among the elderly and vulnerable.
Social isolation affected mental health, with long periods of lockdown and limited social contact increasing anxiety, depression, and a sense of vulnerability. People became more reliant on digital communication, which amplified echo chambers of fear, especially on social media platforms.
Contact avoidance and risk aversion impacted routine activities such as commuting, shaking hands, or being in crowds. These were suddenly seen as dangerous. And this led to long-term changes in behavior. Even after restrictions lifted, many people were hesitant to return to “normal” life.
Mixed messaging and changing rules led to confusion and mistrust in institutions. People split into camps, some deeply fearful and cautious, others resentful of the fear-driven approach. This division only deepened the sense of national unease.
The lockdowns didn’t by themselves make people fearful, but the way they were implemented, communicated, and experienced led to a prolonged period of fear and uncertainty. That fear reshaped how many in the UK viewed everyday life, and its psychological impacts are still being processed.
Widespread anxiety and mental health struggles prevailed because the pandemic caused a significant increase in clinical anxiety, depression, and PTSD, especially among young people and the elderly. NHS data showed a spike in demand for mental health services, with long waiting lists and a growing treatment gap.
Social re-entry anxiety became common, with many people hesitant or fearful about returning to the workplace, public transport, or crowded places. Behaviors like frequent handwashing, mask-wearing, and social distancing persisted for a time even after official guidance ended.
Many people became skeptical of experts, government, and even media, feeling they were misled, manipulated, or patronized. This bred a deeper cynicism about future public health messaging, perhaps undermining trust in future emergencies.
There were political effects, too, with a rise in conspiracy theories and anti-establishment sentiment. Lockdowns, mandates, and vaccine policies contributed to the rise of commentators who framed lockdowns as state overreach or erosion of civil liberties.
Public opinion became highly polarized because some wanted stricter, longer lockdowns and continued caution, while others felt deeply alienated by what they saw as authoritarian policies. This split created challenges for future policymaking, especially regarding public health, privacy, and surveillance. Some argued that civil liberties were too easily suspended under the guise of safety.
Overall, many critics argue the UK, once known for a cultural stoicism ("keep calm and carry on"), became risk-averse and emotionally fragile, especially in public discourse.
The long shadow of the UK’s COVID response shaped a nation more cautious, more skeptical, and in some ways, more fragmented. The psychological toll is visible in mental health statistics, while politically, it has created lasting divisions and distrust. How governments handle future crises may need to be radically different to regain public confidence. The one glaring lesson is that if another pandemic comes, it must be handled very differently to what was done last time.
Madsen Pirie