Abstract

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and associated mitigation strategies such as “lockdown”
are having widespread adverse psychological effects, including increased levels of anxiety and depression. Most
research using self-reported data highlights the pandemic’s impact on the psychological well-being of females, whereas
data for mental health emergency presentations may reflect the impact on male mental health more accurately. We
analyzed records of male mental health emergencies occurring in the East Midlands of the United Kingdom during the
first national “lockdown.” We computed two binary logistic regression models to (a) compare male mental health
emergencies occurring during “lockdown,” 2020 (5,779) with those occurring in the same period in 2019 (N = 4,744)
and (b) compare male (N = 5,779) and female (N = 7,695) mental health emergencies occurring during “lockdown.”
Comparisons considered the characteristics of mental health emergencies recorded by ambulance clinicians (Primary
Impressions), and the socioeconomic characteristics of communities where emergencies use the Index of Multiple
Deprivation. We found that during “lockdown,” male emergencies were more likely to involve acute anxiety (odds ratio
[OR]: 1.42) and less likely to involve intentional drug overdose (OR: 0.86) or attempted suicide (OR: 0.71) compared
with 2019. Compared with females, male emergencies were more likely to involve acute behavioral disturbance
(OR: 1.99) and less likely to involve anxiety (OR: 0.67), attempted suicide (OR: 0.83), or intentional drug overdose
(OR: 0.76). Compared with 2019, and compared with females, males experiencing mental health emergencies during
“lockdown” were more likely to present in areas of high deprivation. Understanding the presentation of male mental
health emergencies could inform improved patient care pathways.