40% of U.S. Adults Reported Worsening Mental Health in Late June Due to Pandemic, CDC Finds

U.S. adults reported worsening mental health associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, according to astudy published in theMorbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Young adults, individuals who identified as Black and/or Hispanic, essential workers, and unpaid adult caregivers reported disproportionately worse mental health outcomes.“Addressing mental health disparities and preparing support systems to mitigate mental health consequences as the pandemic evolves will continue to be needed urgently,” wrote Mark É. Czeisler of the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health in Melbourne, Australia; Emiko Petrosky, M.D., of t he Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 Response Team; and colleagues.The researchers conducted web-based surveys of 5,470 adults aged 18 and older across the United States from June 24 to 30. The surveys used the Patient Health Questionnaire to assess whether respondents had symptoms of anxiety and/or depressive disorders and the Impact of Event Scale to assess trauma- and stressor-related disorder symptoms. Respondents were also asked if they had started or increased substance use to cope with stress or emotions related to the pandemic and if they had seriously considered suicide in the past 30 days.Overall, 40.9% of respondents reported symptoms of at least one adverse mental health condition, including anxiety, depression, and increased use of substances to cope with stress related to the pandemic. About a quarter of the respondents repor...
Source: Psychiatr News - Category: Psychiatry Tags: anxiety COVID-19 depression mental health Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report substance use disorders suicide ideation Source Type: research