**2.4 One year with the pandemic**

The updated report on the changes in population mental health & wellbeing in England during the COVID-19 pandemic using the UK Household Longitudinal Study showed that mental health deteriorated significantly during the two national lockdown periods [8]. The psychological distress rates increased from 20.8% in 2019 (pre-Covid) to 29.5% in April 2020 (1st Lockdown), then eased at 21.3% by September 2020 and then gone up again to 27.1% in January 2021(2nd Lockdown), then eased at 24.5% in March 2021 end. Mental distress rates were found to be higher among young vs. older adults and women vs. men; During the pandemic period self-reported levels of loneliness were much higher especially during winter lockdown of 2021. Among the young adults who had a pre-existing mental health condition and belonged to lower income group had experienced much worse mental health during the pandemic together with increased alcohol consumption and smoking. Similarly, those with poor physical health reported feeling more socially isolated during the first wave (June-July 2020) than the second (Nov-Dec 2020). It was devastated to observe that the mental health outcomes during the pandemic were found to be worse among minority ethnic groups (BAME) compared to their White counterparts.

According to UCL COVID-19 Social Study the 38 week per week data (starting from 1st Lockdown in 23rd March 2020) showed that both anxiety & depression rates were constantly higher for BAME compared to their White counterparts; the latter group also experienced a faster decline in those rates. It was also noticed that the loneliness rates, Covid stress, Financial stress, thoughts of suicide/self-harm rate were consistently higher for BAME compared to their White counterparts. Finally,

*Perspective Chapter: Impact of COVID-19 on the Health of Ethnic Minorities in the UK… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.104871*

Compare to White community, the life satisfaction rate during the pandemic period was found to be consistently lower for the BAME people. Overall, the deterioration in mental health condition during the pandemic period was higher in BAME, especially among men when compared to White individuals; thus, ethnicity predicts mental health deterioration when interacted with gender [9].

#### **2.5 Impact mitigating strategies**

Both short- and long-term strategies are thus required to mitigate the devastating impact of COVID on their health and quality of life. These could also be designed according to risk factors and preventable measures including social distancing, maintaining hand hygiene, working remotely and avoiding gathering, clubbing, partying and in groups entertainment. Within BAME community the population is extremely heterogeneous; therefore, any behavioural change strategies need to be contextualised in the six G's framework. The six G's (gender, generation, genes, geography, God/religion, and gaps in resources) in the context of management of diabetes and CVD among BAME through diet and lifestyle behavioural change are discussed in a separate publication [10].

Short-term strategies using social marketing approach are:


Long-term strategies

• Re-emphasise the role of state (Central and local governments) in initiating these preventative strategies at large using the Nobel nudging approach [12].

