Mental Health in the Age of Pandemic: A Content Analysis of Mutual Aid As a Protective Factor

Background and Purpose: Economic recessions are correlated with poorer mental health outcomes and higher rates of domestic violence, substance use disorders, and suicide (e.g., McGregor & Holden, 2015). In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, surging unemployment has resulted in isolation, housing and food insecurity, all of which are risk factors for poor mental health. At the same time, community-based mutual aid networks are emerging to address the unmet needs of marginalized populations. This study explores this emergent phenomenon, and raises new questions about how mutual aid networks can be a protective factor in supporting the mental health of vulnerable populations.

Methods: A content analysis was completed to examine the prevalence of the terms “mental health” and “mutual aid” in United States news media following the COVID-19 pandemic. A LexisNexis database search identified mentions of “mental health” and “mutual aid” appearing together in all news media reports within a date range of January 31, 2020 (formal declaration of U.S. public health emergency) to April 24, 2020 (the earliest date that state-imposed shelter in place orders expired). To establish a baseline for comparison, this query was used to examine the same date range in the years 2015–2019. After duplicate news media reports were removed, the remaining query results were loaded into ATLAS.ti for textual analysis to better understand the context in which “mental health” and “mutual aid” was discussed.

Results: Findings revealed a dramatic increase in the frequency of mentions of “mental health” and “mutual aid” appearing in U.S. news media in 2020 (x = 63 mentions) when compared to previous years (x̅ = 5.6, s = 1.9), an increase by a factor of greater than 10. Further textual analysis in ATLAS.ti revealed a significant qualitative shift in the context in which “mental health” and “mutual aid” were discussed.

Conclusions: During the years 2015–2019, “mental health” and “mutual aid” were largely discussed in the context of inter-jurisdictional disaster relief and crisis management policy. By contrast, in 2020 “mental health” and "mutual aid” are largely discussed in the context of collective and egalitarian community support networks that reduce the negative impacts of unemployment, food and housing insecurity, social isolation, and other issues not adequately addressed by government intervention. This reformulation of mutual aid is further characterized by relationality, inclusivity, and the re-centering of historically marginalized communities—key determinants of positive mental health.

Implications and Future Research: These findings suggest that further investigation will yield critical insights with significant social work practice implications. The population health principles being applied to the pandemic have social justice and health equity implications that are essential to consider when assessing mental health risk and protective factors. Therefore, it is vital that we revisit conventional and individualistic formulations of mental health treatment with renewed focus on community as a crucial social determinant of mental health.