Loneliness, depression and entrapment during lockdown: a cross-national investigation of COVID-19 related problems over time in suicide prevention helplines

Intro: During the COVID-19 pandemic a collaboration was established between two suicide prevention helplines in The Netherlands and Belgium. The aim was to explore: (i) the nature of COVID-19-related conversations and differences between the countries (ii) whether sociodemographic factors and government restrictions could predict the number of COVID-19-related conversations, and (iii) how the prevalence of COVID-19-related problems progressed over time. Method: A cross-national longitudinal observational design, using registration data from the two helplines in the Flemish-speaking part of Belgium (N = 9,352) and the Netherlands (N = 20,826). Results: Most reported COVID-19-related problems were loneliness, increases in feelings of depression/ anxiety and entrapment. Men, those over the age of 30, people living alone, and those not in regular mental healthcare were more likely to discuss COVID-19-related problems. Stricter government regulations significantly predicted COVID-19-related conversations, however, the effect size was small. Some problems stayed stable over time, whereas feelings of depression/anxiety, entrapment and loneliness peaked during stricter lockdown measures. Conclusion: The high prevalence of feelings of loneliness and the increase in feelings of entrapment during periods with stricter lockdown measures is of particular relevance for future crises. Care should be taken to provide additional support and monitoring of vulnerable groups.