COVID-19 vaccination and web search on mental health: A worldwide infodemiological study

Background

The association between worldwide COVID-19 vaccination and mental health has been largely unexplored by means of infodemiological studies.

Objective

To explore how global public interest in different mental health topics changed between the pre-vaccination pandemic stage and the different periods of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

Methods

In this study were examined the relative search volume (RSV) in Google Trends for ‘anxiety’, ‘depression’, ‘stress’, and ‘suicide’ between 1 March 2020 and 1 January 2023. The RSV for each term was compared with respect to 4 periods: the pre-vaccination pandemic stage; the period from initiation of vaccination until 50% of the population was fully vaccinated (FV); the period from 50% FV to 60% FV; and the period after 60% FV.

Results

A significant lower mean RSV on anxiety, depression, and suicide was found once 60% of the world population had been FV compared to different previous vaccination periods and with the pre-vaccination pandemic stage.

Conclusions

There seems to be less need for information worldwide on anxiety, depression, and suicide topics once 60% of the population is FV against COVID-19. Overcoming this vaccination milestone may have had a positive impact on public interest in specific mental health issues.