A public engagement survey by Public Health Wales has revealed that while people’s mental health, happiness and anxiety were hit hardest during winter 20/21, 70 per cent of those surveyed reported feeling happy by March 2022.

Throughout the pandemic, people over 75 were the happiest (76 per cent), compared with 58 per cent of 18-34 year olds saying they were feeling happy. More men (69 per cent) also reported being happy than women (64 per cent).

Worry about catching coronavirus also peaked around December 2020/January 2021 then fell substantially; coinciding with the rollout of the vaccination programme. It remained relatively low throughout the remainder of the survey time.

Between April 2020 and March 2022, Public Health Wales conducted a public engagement telephone survey to track how coronavirus and related control measures were affecting the public’s health and wellbeing.

Over the last two years, more than 27,000 Welsh residents have participated in the survey, with around 600-1000 residents participating in each survey round.

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