PERCEIVED IMPACT OF COVID‑19
ON MENTAL HEALTH
The ApartTogether survey sought information on the men‑
tal health status of the refugee and migrants participating
in the survey through questions probing whether psycho‑
logical problems were more present since the outbreak of
COVID‑19 than before. Among the participants a large pro‑
portion of the participants reported perceived worsening
of mental health status due to COVID‑19. They indicated
they were feeling more depressed, worried, anxious, lonely,
angry, stressed, irritated, hopeless, having more sleep re‑
lated problems and used more drugs and alcohol (Fig. 11).
Among the participants reporting worsening of their men‑
tal health, refugee and migrants living in asylum centres or
on the streets were the ones that reported most worsen‑
ing.
Story of Layla
Layla from Kenya is now living in an asylum
centre in Ireland. Layla is a single parent
and the COVID–19 pandemic has made
her more worried about the future of her children:
“Corona virus has affected everyone’s way of life. For
me, as a single parent seeking asylum, it’s very scary
because there’s the extra added worry of who would
look after my kids should I fall sick. The fear can be
paralysing. I worry more and stress more.”
FIG. 11. Respondents identifying deterioration of mental health since the COVID-19 pandemic according to their
housing condition
80%
Respondents identifying deterioration of mental health
70%
60%
71.5
69.6
65.3
59.1
68.3
64.3
64.2
65.9
64.3
60.9
60.8
58.6
43.4
46.2
43.5
55.3
54.1
52.5
50%
59.3
57.7
56.4
45.2
41.0
42.5
40%
58.1
54.2
52.0
43.7
40.8
60.1
58.5
39.5
42.9
51.9
46.8
45.4
40.6
42.0
41.9
33.9
33.6
33.2
30%
22.8
24.2
20%
10%
0%
Depressed
Worry
Anxiety
Loneliness
Anger
Reminders
Physical
stress
reactions
Irritable
Hopeless‑
ness
Sleep
problems
Drugs and
alcohol
Type of mental health problems
House/apartment Asylum centre Refugee camp On the streets - Insecure
Note: number of respondents for each issue: 15 278 depressed, 15 483 worry, 15 291 anxiety, 14 730 loneliness, 13 340 anger, 13 454
reminders, 12 344 physical stress reactions, 13 343 irritable, 13 314 hopelessness, 13 232 sleep problems, 8915 drugs and alcohol (survey
question used this term); number of participants differed by housing situation, e.g. for depression the numbers responding were 13 562 for
house/apartment, 359 for asylum centre, 1190 for refugee camp, 167 for on the streets or in insecure accommodation
16 | Perceived impact of COVID‑19 on mental health