A Cross-Sectional Study on Depression, Anxiety, and Stress among the Bangladeshi Population amid COVID-19

Abstract Background: Depression, anxiety, and stress have surged worldwide and in Bangladesh during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to assess the mental health condition of the Bangladeshi population during this pandemic. A cross-sectional study was carried out between Feb 17, 2021, to Apr 8, 2021, during the lockdown enforced in Bangladesh with structured questions of the DASS-21 (Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21), and 310 responses were collected for the study purpose. One-way ANOVA was performed to determine the statistical significance. STATA-13 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: Moderate depression was found to be higher (28.06%) among the studied population, along with highly severe anxiety (22.26%) and moderate stress (18.39%). Whether the participants live in urban or rural areas, the living area was significantly associated with depression (p = 0.033) and anxiety (p = 0.014). Despite their adverse mental health status during the pandemic, only 36 out of 310 (12%) participants visited psychologists or psychiatrists. Conclusion: It shows that most people in lower-middle-income countries, like Bangladesh, hesitate to seek medical advice. Proper concerns must be raised to secure a healthy future.