More than three quarters of a sample of Australians have reported their mental health has worsened since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a study shows.

To provide a snapshot of Australia’s mental health response, researchers surveyed more than 5000 adults at the height of the outbreak — late March and early April — when social distancing was being enforced.

Only eight participants (0.2%) reported that they either currently had or previously had the virus.  

The results of the survey, conducted by the Black Dog Institute at UNSW Sydney, showed that 78% of participants believed they had experienced poorer mental health since the outbreak started.