March 30, 2021
The Mental Health Implication of the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic may feel like it's coming to an end, as vaccines become available and mandates begin lifting across the U.S. Unfortunately, the country can still feel the toll the pandemic took on American's mental health, as evident by the increase in anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and overdoses in the past year.
From January to September 2020, 1.5 million people accessed an online screening program offered by Mental Health America (MHA). MHA explored the data from these screenings and released their findings in their 2021 State of Mental Health in America report. Here's what they found:
Skyrocketing Numbers of People Seek Help for Anxiety and Depression
From January to September 2020, the number of people who took their online anxiety screening increased by 93% from 2019. During that same time, MHA saw a 62% increase in depression screens.
Severe Depression and Anxiety On the Rise
More than 8 in 10 people who took a depression screen in September 2020 scored with moderate to severe depression symptoms. The number of people screening with moderate to severe symptoms of depression and anxiety continued to increase ...