Impact of COVID-19 measures on mental health: FOI release

Information requested

1) Information on any impact analysis carried out by the Scottish Government to assess the effect of all Covid measures on mental health in Scotland. 

2) Information on the measurement and assessment tools used in such an analysis, to show impact by age group and mental health condition, and impact by type of measure implemented (e.g. lockdowns, school closures, masking, social distancing).

Response

Impact assessments have been carried out for each set of regulations that have been introduced, and reported to the Scottish Parliament. These are published on Legislation.gov. I have attached an example that shows the format and content of previous assessment, and the methodology and subgroup analysis. Please see:

The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 (revoked) (legislation.gov.uk)

Regulations made under Covid-19 legislation are considered through the Four Harms approach which draws on evidence and analysis to assess both current and future direct and indirect health impacts and the social and economic impacts of the pandemic and of proposed regulations. This approach is underpinned by Scotland’s Strategic Framework which sets out our approach to managing the pandemic.

On a periodic basis we have published the evidence underpinning this 4 harms approach. See:

• (1) Coronavirus (COVID-19): framework for decision making - assessing the four harms - gov.scot (www.gov.scot (December 2020)
• (2) Foreword from the First Minister - Coronavirus (COVID-19): Scotland's Strategic Framework update - June 2021 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) (June 2021) along with
• (3) our most recent evidence paper published to support the Strategic Framework, in February 2022 [Evidence paper to accompany: Scotland’s Strategic Framework Update (www.gov.scot].

About FOI

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