Quantifying the Effects of COVID-19 on Mental Health Support Forums

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic, like many of the disease outbreaks that have preceded it, is likely to have a profound effect on mental health. Understanding its impact can inform strategies for mitigating negative consequences. In this work, we seek to better understand the effects of COVID-19 on mental health by examining discussions within mental health support communities on Reddit. First, we quantify the rate at which COVID-19 is discussed in each community, or subreddit, in order to understand levels of preoccupation with the pandemic. Next, we examine the volume of activity in order to determine whether the quantity of people seeking online mental health support has risen. Finally, we analyze how COVID-19 has influenced language use and topics of discussion within each subreddit.

Audio, Speech, Language, & Signal Processing for COVID-19: A Comprehensive Overview

“…Text data from several individuals on social media, hospitality feedback from the patients on the treatment given to them, and forums such as blogs provide useful information about different COVID-19 related aspects. The mental health support communities on Reddit are analysed in [95], to understand the effects of COVID-19 on the mental health of society. It is observed that the posts on this community forum per day have increased specifically in the subreddits of Anxiety and SuicideWatch, however, decrease in the subreddit of depression during the pandemic period.…”