The mental health of the French continues to deteriorate three years after the start of the pandemic

The French are still marked by the pandemic. More than four in 10 people surveyed in December say they have shown signs of a depressed or anxious state in the past 12 months, according to the results of a new Public Health France survey with the BVA polling institute, released Thursday.

A figure that remains high, almost three years after the first cases of Covid were officially detected in France.

Nearly a quarter of the French say they are looking forward to

If the lockdowns now seem far away, the mental health of the French does not show any improvement in 2022. Almost one in four French people (24%) shows signs of a state of anxiety, when almost one in six respondents (17%) admits signs of depression

In total, more than four in ten people are affected (41%). Figures that are not insignificant and that are increasing compared to the level outside the pandemic (respectively +11 points and +7 points).

Only one slight improvement can be noted: the drop of two points by the French who declare having had suicidal thoughts during the year compared to 2021. However, one in ten respondents remains worried.

Nearly eight in ten French people (79%) also say they have a positive outlook on their lives in general. A stable value and 5 points lower than before the pandemic.

Young people and the precarious particularly concerned

In general, the figures for anxious and depressive states, life satisfaction, sleep problems and suicidal thoughts have not decreased compared to last year. The proportion of anxious people is still very high, with more than 10 points compared to 2017.

Young adults (18-24 years old), precarious people and those who declare a history of mental disorders are the ones that are most frequently affected by anxious and depressive states, suicidal thoughts and sleep problems.

Women also display particularly poor health. They are particularly affected by anxious and depressive states, as well as sleep problems.

Public Health France’s CovidPrev survey, conducted in conjunction with the BVA survey institute, has assessed the mental health of the population since the start of the pandemic since March 2020.