Data and code for: Remote instruction and student mental health. Swedish Evidence from the Pandemic

When COVID-19 reached Sweden, upper-secondary students (ages 17–19) transitioned to remote instruction, while lower-secondary schools (ages 14–16) remained open. We use this setting as a natural experiment to analyze how modes of instruction affect student mental health. Students are tracked until the end 2021, i.e. 21 months after the initial closure and 9 months after schools resumed usual operations. The difference-in-difference estimates suggest that remote instruction resulted in a 4.4 percent decrease in the use of mental healthcare services, as measured by in- and out-patient diagnoses and the use of prescription drugs. There is no indication of a rebound when following students to the end of the study period.<br><br><br>