Data and code for Mental wellbeing and job loss during health crisis: International evidence

Using a rich individual level dataset
from six countries, we examine the association between job loss and mental wellbeing
loss during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. We consider four
indicators of mental health status based on their severity, viz. anxiety,
insomnia, boredom, and loneliness. We draw our conclusions based on two groups of countries that differ by the timing of their peak infections
count. Using a logit model and controlling for endogeneity, we
find that the people who lost
their jobs due to the pandemic are more likely to suffer from mental wellbeing
loss, especially insomnia and loneliness. Additionally, people with
financial liabilities, such as housing mortgages, are among the mentally vulnerable
groups to anxiety. Women, urban residences, youth, low-income groups, and
tobacco users are more prone to mental wellbeing loss. The findings from this
research have significant policy implications on infectious disease control measures
and mental health status due to lockdowns and social distancing. <b></b>