ABSTRACT
Objective To understand the public mental health status and related influencing factors during the epidemic of coronavirus disease 2019（COVID-19）. Methods A structured questionnaire was used to conduct a questionnaire survey of the research subjects through an online platform. The public mental health status was assessed using the Symptom Checklist (SCL-90). Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze related influencing factors. Results The survey included 1 078 eligible questionnaires, of which 252 (23.38%) were positive on the SCL-90 scale. For each SCL-90 factor, the highest positive rate was anxiety (41.28%), followed by horror (35.16%), and depression (33.21%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that from Hubei (OR=1.64, P=0.014), male (OR=1.37, P=0.036), medical related occupations or professions (OR=1.57, P=0.008), and high concern over the epidemic (OR=2.19, P=0.013) and known people with suspected or confirmed cases (OR=2.75, P<0.001) were risk factors influencing public mental health. Conclusion The mental health problems of the population during the epidemic of COVID-19 were serious, especially in Hubei. Male groups, medical workers, and people with relatives and friends who have a case need to pay attention to their own mental health. The government should increase the publicity of mental health knowledge to effectively prevent the occurrence and development of mental illness in these people.