Research on the effect of a prolonged lockdown on inpatient admissions is limited . In this background, this study was planned, and it included patients admitted to inpatient units of a large mental health network in Melbourne during the lockdown (March 16–September 16 , 2020) and a similar time period in 2019 . The results showed a 12% decrease in admissions . The lockdown period included patients with lower mean age and more patients with never married status, higher education status, students and patients with home duties, and certain psychiatric diagnoses . Overall, the patients needing inpatient treatment during a prolonged lockdown are different.