Depression during the COVID-19 pandemic amongst residents of homeless shelters in France

Background Accumulating evidence suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected global mental health and well-being. However, the impact amongst homeless persons has not been fully evaluated. The ECHO study reports factors associated with depression amongst the homeless population living in shelters in France during the Spring of 2020. Methods Interview data were collected from 527 participants living in temporary and/or emergency accommodation following France’s first lockdown (02/05/20 – 07/06/20), in the metropolitan regions of Paris (74%), Lyon (19%) and Strasbourg (7%). Interviews were conducted in French, English, or with interpreters (33% of participants, ∼20 languages). Presence of depression was ascertained using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Results Amongst ECHO study participants, 30% had symptoms of moderate to severe depression (PHQ-9≥ 10). Multivariate analysis revealed depression to be associated with being female (aOR: 2.15; CI: 1.26-3.69), being single (aOR: 1.60; CI: 1.01-2.52), having a chronic illness (aOR: 2.32; CI: 1.43:-3.78), facing food insecurity (aOR: 2.12; CI: 1.40-3.22) and participants’ region of origin. Persons born in African and Eastern Mediterranean regions showed levels of depression comparable to those of French participants (30-33%) but higher than migrants from European countries (14%). Reduced rates of depression were observed amongst participants aged 30-49 (aOR: 0.60; CI: 0.38-0.95) and over 50 (aOR: 0.28; CI: 0.13-0.64), compared to 18-29-year-olds. Conclusions Our results indicate high levels of depression among homeless persons during the COVID-19 pandemic. The value of these findings extends beyond the health crisis, as predicted future instability and economic repercussions could particularly impact the mental health of this vulnerable group.