Pandemic triggered ‘second midlife crisis’ among over-50s, study finds

Women hit worst by mental health strains, with more domestic and caring duties amid Covid lockdowns

• I struggled to cope': over-50s in UK describe Covid's toll on mental health

The mental health impact of the pandemic was so severe that it prompted a second midlife crisis" for the over-50s, with women worst affected.

A study has found that just before the second national lockdown began, those born in Britain in 1958 and 1970 were experiencing higher levels of psychological distress, on average, than they had ever experienced in adulthood before, surpassing previous peaks in their early 40s.