The lasting effects of Covid-19 lockdowns on mental health

Using the Baidu search index of mental health keywords and a difference-in-differences identification strategy, we study the lasting effects of Covid-19 lockdown measures implemented among cities in the Hubei province of China on the mental health of Hubei residents. We find that the lockdowns lead to an immediate surge in internet searches of mental health keywords including anxiety, depression, and insomnia. These effects remain at high levels after the lifting of lockdown measures and only come down to the pre-lockdown levels after 3 to 6 months. The effect on the keyword search of suicide lasts even longer. These results suggest that previous research that only focuses on the immediate effects may have underestimated the detrimental effects of lockdowns on mental health. Our findings help to understand the comprehensive effects of Covid-19 lockdowns and offer practical guidance on the withdrawal timing of psychological aid for residents under and post lockdowns.