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Before COVID-19 arrived in Australia, about 5 per cent of Australians typically reported moderate to severe symptoms of depression in the previous two weeks, but by April 2020 with the nation in its first lockdown that increased five-fold.
By August, one in five people had had at least occasional thoughts in the previous two weeks “that they would be better off dead”.
Zoe Vafiadis found herself very anxious during harsh lockdown restrictions, mainly due to concerns for her son’s wellbeing.