Dr Susanna Every-Palmer from the University of Otago’s department of psychological medicine said current research suggests New Zealanders are finding lockdown tougher second time around. Kiwis entered the current lockdown with “a bit more psychological baggage” and may be doing it tougher this time, according to a leading academic behind a study of the nation’s mental health in the wake of the first lockdown. Dr Susanna Every-Palmer, from the University of Otago’s department of psychological medicine, conducted a study on Kiwis’ mental health during last year's lockdown, finding almost one-third of participants experiencing moderate to severe psychological distress. Every-Palmer told Stuff that the latest study collected data from almost 2000 Kiwis in April 2021, exactly one year on from the last lockdown. “This suggests that the country might have entered this current lockdown carrying a bit more psychological baggage than last time round.”She said one surprise finding from the new data was what she termed “altruistic anxiety”.

Source: Stuff August 28, 2021 23:18 UTC