Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health in the United States: CDC Report

Large disease outbreaks have been linked to mental health issues. The current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has negatively impacted millions of people around the world, many of whom have lost their jobs, their business and even their loved ones.

The spread of disease and the increased death toll in a large epidemic are associated with fear and grief. Social restrictions and isolation can increase the risk of mental health problems.

Researchers from the National Center for Health Statistics and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that recent symptoms of anxiety and depression increased during the pandemic, particularly between August 2020 and February 2021.

The study, published in the CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), stresses the importance of evaluating the impact of strategies relating to the mental health status of adults during the pandemic. In this way, these can help plan strategies and interventions for affected groups.

Mental health issues and pandemic

The pandemic continues to wreak havoc across the globe, infecting more than 128 million people worldwide. To date, more than 2.8 million people have died from COVID-19.

The pandemic has prompted social restrictions and measures to reduce the spread of the virus, including the closure of non-essential businesses. As a result, many people lost their jobs. Unemployment, the loss of a loved one, infection with COVID-19 and the global impact of the pandemic have increased the risk of mental health problems.

The study

The US CDC has partnered with the US Census Bureau to conduct the Household Pulse Survey (HPS), a report describing trends in the prevalence of symptoms of anxiety disorder or depressive disorder among adults. The partnership aims to quickly monitor changes in mental health status and access to care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The HPS is a rapid-response online survey that used a probability-based sampling design to assess the social and economic impact of the pandemic on households in the United States.

Additionally, questions about mental health symptoms were taken from the validated Patient Health Questionnaire for Depression and Anxiety. Typical questions included whether the patient had symptoms, such as feeling nervous or anxious, unable to stop worrying, having little interest in activities, and feeling depressed, depressed or hopeless in the past seven days. .

Those who had symptoms of anxiety and depression occurring more than half or almost every day had symptoms. In addition, respondents were asked whether they had taken any prescription medication for their mental health problem in the past four weeks, received advice or therapy from a health professional, or had needed advice or treatment but had not received advice.

The team found that between August 19, 2020 and February 1, 2021, the number of people who experienced symptoms of anxiety or depression in the past seven days increased from 36.4% to 41.5%. . Those who said they needed mental health counseling, but did not receive it in the past four weeks, fell from 9.2% to 11.7%.

The increase in numbers was greatest among adults aged 18 to 29 and among those who had not completed high school.

The team noted that using HPS data can help assess the impact of strategies to address mental health in adults during the pandemic. The results of the study can guide interventions for groups that are disproportionately affected by the global health crisis.

“Continuous near real-time monitoring of mental health trends based on demographic characteristics is essential during the COVID-19 pandemic,” the researchers concluded in the study.

“These trends could be used to assess the impact of strategies that address the mental health status and care of adults during the pandemic and to guide interventions for groups that are disproportionately affected,” they added. .