  The COVID-19 pandemic, like many of the disease outbreaks that have preceded
it, is likely to have a profound effect on mental health. Understanding its
impact can inform strategies for mitigating negative consequences. In this
work, we seek to better understand the effects of COVID-19 on mental health by
examining discussions within mental health support communities on Reddit.
First, we quantify the rate at which COVID-19 is discussed in each community,
or subreddit, in order to understand levels of preoccupation with the pandemic.
Next, we examine the volume of activity in order to determine whether the
quantity of people seeking online mental health support has risen. Finally, we
analyze how COVID-19 has influenced language use and topics of discussion
within each subreddit.
