COVID-19 Blues: Lockdowns and Mental Health-Related Google Searches in Latin America

In this paper, we examine the relationship between the COVID-19 lockdowns and mental health-related Google searches throughout Latin America. Using Google Trends data and an event-study design, we explore the association between country-specific stay-at-home orders and internet searches including the following words: insomnia, stress, anxiety, sadness, depression, and suicide. Our results show three main patterns. First, searches for insomnia peak but then decline. Second, searches for stress, anxiety, and sadness increase and remain high throughout the lockdown. Third, there is no substantial change in depression-related or suicide-related searches after the lockdown. Combined, our results suggest that, in Latin America, Google searches for words associated with mild mental health disorders increased during the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders.

Keywords: Mental Health; COVID-19; Latin America

JEL Classification: H84, I12, I15, J18

Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

Hoehn-Velasco, Lauren and Balmori-de-la-Miyar, Jose Roberto and Rodriguez, Abel and Silverio-Murillo, Adan, COVID-19 Blues: Lockdowns and Mental Health-Related Google Searches in Latin America (July 24, 2020). Andrew Young School of Policy Studies Research Paper Series, Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3659942 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3659942