Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on people’s health within the past year

Q. Thinking about your health in the past year, which of the following applies to you as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic?

	Yes, applies to me	No, does not apply to me
I’ve visited my GP less regularly	44%	56%
My overall mental wellbeing has declined	40%	60%
I’ve avoided seeking medical attention for a health issue I would normally get looked at	32%	68%
I’ve had medical check-ups/tests delayed or cancelled	32%	68%
My overall physical health has declined	31%	69%
I’ve had elective procedures delayed or cancelled	22%	78%

• The Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions have had a knock-on effect on many people’s general health, with 44% visiting their GP less regularly and 32% avoiding seeking medical attention. 32% have also had check-ups or tests delayed or cancelled, and 22% have had electives procedures delayed or cancelled.
• 40% acknowledge a decline in their mental wellbeing and 31% in their physical health.

TOTAL:  Yes, applies to me	Total	Gender			Age Group				Federal Voting Intention
		Male	Female	18-34		35-54	55+	Labor		TOTAL: Coalition	Greens	TOTAL: Other
I’ve visited my GP less regularly	44%	41%	46%	52%		48%	33%	45%		44%	55%	41%
My overall mental wellbeing has declined	40%	38%	41%	53%		47%	22%	41%		36%	56%	40%
I’ve avoided seeking medical attention for a health issue I would normally get looked at	32%	31%	33%	42%		38%	18%	34%		32%	46%	25%
I’ve had medical check-ups/tests delayed or cancelled	32%	33%	32%	42%		35%	20%	28%		34%	50%	36%
My overall physical health has declined	31%	32%	29%	37%		36%	20%	31%		29%	42%	32%
I’ve had elective procedures delayed or cancelled	22%	25%	20%	34%		23%	11%	18%		25%	29%	21%
Base (n)	1,100	539	561	341		374	385	367		389	103	145

 

TOTAL:  Yes, applies to me	State
	NSW	VIC	QLD	SA	WA
I’ve visited my GP less regularly	52%	51%	37%	34%	24%
My overall mental wellbeing has declined	43%	45%	35%	39%	30%
I’ve avoided seeking medical attention for a health issue I would normally get looked at	35%	35%	30%	27%	24%
I’ve had medical check-ups/tests delayed or cancelled	40%	32%	29%	23%	21%
My overall physical health has declined	35%	32%	33%	22%	19%
I’ve had elective procedures delayed or cancelled	25%	24%	21%	14%	19%
Base (n)	352	274	217	89	111

• Younger people are more likely than older people to have experienced the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on their health. Those aged 18-34 are more likely than those over 55 to have had delays or cancellations to medical appointments (42% to 20% for check-ups/tests, 34% to 11% for elective procedures).
• Younger people are most likely to have noticed a decline in both their mental wellbeing and physical health (53% and 37% respectively).
• People living in NSW and Victorians are more likely than those in other states to say their mental wellbeing has declined (43% and 45%).