Social Determinants of Mental Health as Mediators and Moderators of the Mental Health Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Contracting COVID-19, being exposed to it, or being affected by societal containment measures can have consequences that are themselves social determinants of health. Preexisting social determinants of health also drive the disproportionately high prevalence of COVID-19 infection and deaths among minority, marginalized, and other vulnerable populations. Thus, the social determinants of mental health act as both mediators andmoderators of the pandemic's impacts, and like all social determinants, the effects of the pandemic are underpinned by public policies and social norms. The major economic impacts of containment measures have had cascading effects that will affect mental health for years to come.

Automated summary

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are significantly influenced by social determinants of health, particularly in terms of infection and mortality rates among minority and vulnerable populations. The economic repercussions of containment measures have had cascading effects that will impact mental health in the years to come.