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(News source: published on behalf of University College London)
University College London (UCL) are running a study into the psychological and social effects of COVID-19 in the UK.
The results are being used to understand the effects of the virus and social distancing measures on mental health and loneliness in the UK and to inform government advice and decisions.
UCL are looking for adults in the UK who are happy to take part and spread the word about the study. Participation involves answering a 10-minute online survey and then answering a shorter follow-up survey once a week whilst social isolation measures are in place.
Find out more and take part in the survey
Frequently asked questions
What happens to the data?
The data people provide is analysed anonymously (so people can’t be identified) and provided into weekly dashboards for cabinet office, wider departments of government (including DHSC and DfE), Public Health England, NHS England, and mental health organisations and charities. The reports are also made publicly available for members of the public to see what is happening, very much promoting ‘open science’ during the pandemic so that people are informed about how the nation is being affected: marchnetwork.org/research
The data is then being used to inform what advice is given to people, and what support is available, whether that is formal mental health service support or other support such as from telephone lines (such as Samaritans) and voluntary organisations. The data is also being used to inform decisions such as the length of lockdown. These are all decisions that directly affect the daily lives of individuals, so taking part can give individuals a chance to say what challenges they are facing.
Is the study ethics approved and GDPR compliant?
This study has full ethical and data protection approved and is GDPR compliant, all hosted through secure servers and data safe havens. It’s funded by the Wellcome Trust and the Nuffield Foundation (two of the largest scientific funders on medicine and society respectively).