newswire: 8/29/2020
- According to a new survey, fully 40% of American adults reported struggling with their mental health or substance use in late June. The negative psychological effects of COVID-19 have been significant and widespread, with much higher shares of Americans reporting that they're feeling anxious or depressed compared to a year ago. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Every quarter, the CDC releases a study on the mental health of Americans. The results from their April to June survey were no surprise: Americans have been traumatized by the pandemic lockdown.
- We have been reporting for months that Covid-19 is triggering record levels of distress and pessimism. The CDC is just bringing more evidence to the party. (See "Distress Levels Skyrocket During Pandemic.")
- What did the CDC find? 40.9% of Americans reported struggling with a mental health issue. In the same period of 2019, the share was only 10.9%. When it came to specific disorders, 25.5% reported symptoms of anxiety, three times higher than last year (8.1%). And 24.3% reported symptoms of depression, almost four times higher than last year (6.5%).
- One of the more alarming findings was an increase in suicidal thoughts. 10.7% of Americans reported considering suicide in the last 30 days. When they asked the same question in 2018, only 4.3% of Americans said the same thing.
- By age, the young reported the highest levels of distress. Those age 18-24 had the highest levels of anxiety and depression (49.1% and 52.3%), while those over 65 reported the lowest levels (6.2% and 5.8%).
- By race, Hispanics reported the highest levels of stress. 40.8% of Hispanics reported symptoms of either depression or anxiety. The next highest was blacks at 30.2%, then whites at 29.2%, and finally Asians at 18.0%.
- Unfortunately, we can't compare the data on age brackets and race to previous CDC quarterly surveys (the CDC has not released the data). But we have seen in other studies that the young are showing increases in mental health crises since Covid-19 began. ("America is Registering Record Levels of Unhappiness.")
- So, what's causing this epidemic of distress? There are several competing explanations available. The stress of financial loss has affected many. The trauma of being jobless has affected millions. (Despite government stimulus, jobs are still connected with self-worth.) Many are too scared to go to a healthcare provider. There is also the worry of you or a loved one getting sick. And there is the debilitating toll of extended isolation, which was also a problem long before the pandemic (see "All The Lonely People").
- With the future of stimulus in question and colder months approaching, America’s emotional conditional may not improve anytime soon.
DID YOU KNOW?
- Let’s Keep Working from Home. COVID-19 has taken a major toll on Americans’ mental health. (See “Distress Levels Skyrocket During Pandemic.”) But as a new poll by Morning Consult illustrates, the shifts the pandemic has precipitated haven’t all been negative—particularly when it comes to work. The poll surveyed Americans of different income levels and backgrounds who have worked remotely for the past few months. Fully 86% said they were satisfied with working from home; only one in five said that they wanted to go back to the office full time. A significant share are focusing more on themselves or incorporating relaxing activities into their day: About 40% are taking more walks or spending more time outdoors, while roughly 60% say they feel more connected to their families. Parents with children at home reported feeling more stressed than non-parents, but they were equally satisfied with working from home. Parents were also more likely to say that being home has improved their productivity and sense of work-life balance.
