Depression During the COVID-19 Pandemic Amongst Residents of Homeless Shelters in France

Overview

Journal J Affect Disord Rep

Date 2021 Oct 11

PMID 34632442

Citations 16

Authors

Honor Scarlett

Camille Davisse-Paturet

Cecile Longchamps

Tarik El Aarbaoui

Cecile Allaire

Anne-Claire Colleville

Mary Convence-Arulthas

Lisa Crouzet

Simon Ducarroz

Maria Melchior

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

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), single (aOR: 1.60; CI: 1.01-2.52), chronically ill (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 African and Eastern Mediterranean regions showed higher levels of depression (30-33% of participants) than those migrating from other 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.

Limitations: These data are cross-sectional, only providing information on a given moment in time.

Conclusions: Our results indicate high levels of depression amongst homeless persons during the COVID-19 pandemic. Predicted future instability and economic repercussions could particularly impact the mental health of this vulnerable group.

Citing Articles

Registered report: The effectiveness of a Bhagavad Gita intervention to reduce psychological distress in homeless people-A randomised controlled trial.

Konduru L, Dahia S, Kothari-Speakman G PLoS One. 2024; 19(11):e0310795.

PMID: 39499690 PMC: 11537408. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0310795.

Clinical psychologists' perceptions of telephone consultation for low-income patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: an interview study.

Payan S, Barbosa Bergami P, Vlachopoulou X, Baligand P, Peronnet J, Robin M Prim Health Care Res Dev. 2024; 25:e58.

PMID: 39478435 PMC: 11569854. DOI: 10.1017/S1463423624000495.

Contributions of Trauma and Economic Insecurity to Psychological Distress in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Abdul-Ghani S, Lathan E, Miao A, Gibbons R, Eghbalzad L, Powers A Mental Health Sci. 2024; 1(4):222-230.

PMID: 38707932 PMC: 11068086. DOI: 10.1002/mhs2.36.

A systematic review on the relationship between socioeconomic conditions and emotional disorder symptoms during Covid-19: unearthing the potential role of economic concerns and financial strain.

Chan J, Marzuki A, Vafa S, Thanaraju A, Yap J, Chan X BMC Psychol. 2024; 12(1):237.

PMID: 38671542 PMC: 11046828. DOI: 10.1186/s40359-024-01715-8.

The collateral damage of the COVID-19 pandemic on homeless people in the Netherlands; a qualitative study on the impact of health and care.

van Loenen T, Sow J, van den Muijsenbergh M Front Med (Lausanne). 2024; 11:1305834.

PMID: 38515983 PMC: 10954826. DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1305834.

References

Hernandez D . Affording Housing at the Expense of Health: Exploring the Housing and Neighborhood Strategies of Poor Families. J Fam Issues. 2016; 37(7):921-946. PMC: 4819250. DOI: 10.1177/0192513X14530970. View

Liddell C, Guiney C . Living in a cold and damp home: frameworks for understanding impacts on mental well-being. Public Health. 2015; 129(3):191-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2014.11.007. View

Hughes M, Waite L, Hawkley L, Cacioppo J . A Short Scale for Measuring Loneliness in Large Surveys: Results From Two Population-Based Studies. Res Aging. 2008; 26(6):655-672. PMC: 2394670. DOI: 10.1177/0164027504268574. View

Goodwin G . Depression and associated physical diseases and symptoms. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2006; 8(2):259-65. PMC: 3181771. View

Liu C, Zhang E, Wong G, Hyun S, Hahm H . Factors associated with depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptomatology during the COVID-19 pandemic: Clinical implications for U.S. young adult mental health. Psychiatry Res. 2020; 290:113172. PMC: 7263263. DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113172. View

van Ruth V, Konig H, Bertram F, Schmiedel P, Ondruschka B, Puschel K . Determinants of health-related quality of life among homeless individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Public Health. 2021; 194:60-66. DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2021.02.026. View

Laporte A, Vandentorren S, Detrez M, Douay C, Le Strat Y, Le Mener E . Prevalence of Mental Disorders and Addictions among Homeless People in the Greater Paris Area, France. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018; 15(2). PMC: 5858310. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15020241. View

Rossi R, Socci V, Talevi D, Mensi S, Niolu C, Pacitti F . COVID-19 Pandemic and Lockdown Measures Impact on Mental Health Among the General Population in Italy. Front Psychiatry. 2020; 11:790. PMC: 7426501. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00790. View

Bertram F, Heinrich F, Frob D, Wulff B, Ondruschka B, Puschel K . Loneliness among Homeless Individuals during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021; 18(6). PMC: 7999173. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18063035. View

10.

Mickey R, Greenland S . The impact of confounder selection criteria on effect estimation. Am J Epidemiol. 1989; 129(1):125-37. DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a115101. View

11.

Martin C, Andres P, Bullon A, Villegas J, de la Iglesia-Larrad J, Bote B . COVID pandemic as an opportunity for improving mental health treatments of the homeless people. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2020; 67(4):335-343. PMC: 7443578. DOI: 10.1177/0020764020950770. View

12.

Wu T, Jia X, Shi H, Niu J, Yin X, Xie J . Prevalence of mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Affect Disord. 2020; 281:91-98. PMC: 7710473. DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.11.117. View

13.

Lindert J, von Ehrenstein O, Priebe S, Mielck A, Brahler E . Depression and anxiety in labor migrants and refugees--a systematic review and meta-analysis. Soc Sci Med. 2009; 69(2):246-57. DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.04.032. View

14.

Wong S, Hui C, Wong C, Suen Y, Chan S, Lee E . Prospective prediction of PTSD and depressive symptoms during social unrest and COVID-19 using a brief online tool. Psychiatry Res. 2021; 298:113773. PMC: 9754713. DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113773. View

15.

Clark C, Ryan L, Kawachi I, Canner M, Berkman L, Wright R . Witnessing community violence in residential neighborhoods: a mental health hazard for urban women. J Urban Health. 2007; 85(1):22-38. PMC: 2430129. DOI: 10.1007/s11524-007-9229-8. View

16.

Heeren M, Wittmann L, Ehlert U, Schnyder U, Maier T, Muller J . Psychopathology and resident status - comparing asylum seekers, refugees, illegal migrants, labor migrants, and residents. Compr Psychiatry. 2014; 55(4):818-25. DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2014.02.003. View

17.

Guignard R, Andler R, Quatremere G, Pasquereau A, du Roscoat E, Arwidson P . Changes in smoking and alcohol consumption during COVID-19-related lockdown: a cross-sectional study in France. Eur J Public Health. 2021; 31(5):1076-1083. PMC: 8083514. DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckab054. View

18.

Manea L, Gilbody S, McMillan D . Optimal cut-off score for diagnosing depression with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9): a meta-analysis. CMAJ. 2011; 184(3):E191-6. PMC: 3281183. DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.110829. View

19.

Andersen A, Mary-Krause M, Bustamante J, Heron M, El Aarbaoui T, Melchior M . Symptoms of anxiety/depression during the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdown in the community: longitudinal data from the TEMPO cohort in France. BMC Psychiatry. 2021; 21(1):381. PMC: 8316881. DOI: 10.1186/s12888-021-03383-z. View

20.

Holma K, Holma I, Melartin T, Rytsala H, Isometsa E . Long-term outcome of major depressive disorder in psychiatric patients is variable. J Clin Psychiatry. 2008; 69(2):196-205. DOI: 10.4088/jcp.v69n0205. View