Coronavirus and depression in adults, Great Britain: July to August 2021

Analysis of the proportion of the adult population of Great Britain experiencing some form of depression in summer 2021, based on the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey. Includes analysis by age, sex and other characteristics and comparisons with early 2021, 2020 and pre-pandemic estimates.

Around 1 in 6 (17%) adults experienced some form of depression in summer 2021 (21 July to 15 August); this is a decrease since early 2021 (21% during 27 January to 7 March) but is still above levels before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic (10%).
Rates of depressive symptoms peaked earlier in 2021 before falling to 17% at the end of March (31 March to 4 April); since then, levels have been largely stable.

Over the period 21 July to 15 August 2021:

Younger adults and women were more likely to experience some form of depression, with around 1 in 3 (32%) women aged 16 to 29 years experiencing moderate to severe depressive symptoms, compared with 20% of men of the same age.
Disabled (36%)...