Depression and anxiety fell in early 2021 but remained elevated, CDC says

The arrival of vaccines and the decline in Covid-19 cases in the first half of 2021 coincided with easing symptoms of anxiety and depression across the United States, according to survey data released by the Centers on Tuesday. for Disease Control and Prevention.

But symptoms remained much more common in June 2021, the end of the investigation period, than before the pandemic, and could increase again due to the summer upsurge in cases of the Delta variant, scientists from the Department said. CDC.

The agency relied on a bi-weekly online survey conducted from August 2020 to June 2021. Researchers analyzed 1.5 million responses during that period on the severity of symptoms of anxiety or depression.

From August to December 2020, symptoms of anxiety increased by 13% and symptoms of depression by 15%, according to surveys. But from December to June 2021, this trend reversed: symptoms of anxiety fell by 27% and those of depression by 25%.

The CDC said there was a strong correlation between the average daily number of Covid-19 cases and the severity of respondents’ anxiety and depression.

Noting that some parts of the population had been hit harder by the virus than others, the agency said these same groups may be at greater risk of psychological effects from Covid-19 and good access to services. mental health was essential. Other research has indicated that people with low incomes were at higher risk for depression during the pandemic.

National trends were mirrored in most states, with anxiety and depression peaking in December 2020 or January 2021, when cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the United States all peaked. States that experienced a larger increase in symptoms last year also showed larger reductions in the first half of 2021.

Mississippi was among the states with the largest increases in anxiety and depression scores as a percentage in the second half of 2020. New York, on the other hand, saw both the smallest increase in anxiety scores at the end of the year. 2020 and the smallest drop in the first half of the year. of this year.