Content warning: this post will contain frank discussions of mental illness (including depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder) and suicide prevention.
Without a doubt, the COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating. But while there has been a lot of (rightful) attention to illness, loss of life and long-term complications from COVID-19, there hasn’t been nearly as much attention given to the effects of the pandemic on mental health. It’s particularly important to discuss it this week, during National Suicide Prevention Week.
This pandemic has been an extremely stressful and traumatic period. On top of that, prolonged stay-at-home orders and social distancing – while critical to control the spread of COVID-19 – have caused significant social isolation. All of these conditions increase the risks of depression, anxiety, trauma- and stress-related disorders (TSRD) and substance abuse.
The CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report recently published a report on a web-based survey conducted by researchers from Harvard and Australia in June, 2020. Out of 5,470 U.S. participants, over 2 in 5 (41%) reported at least one of the following mental health or substance abuse conditions:
- Anxiety disorder (26%);
- Depression (24%);
- COVID-related TSRD (26%);
- New or increased substance use (13%); and/or
- Serious consideration of suicide in the past 30 days (11%).
In contrast, the National Institute of Mental Health estimated that 7% of U.S. adults had depression in 2017, 19% had any anxiety disorder between 2001-2003 (a period of time that included September 11, 2001, a significant trauma for many U.S. adults), and only 4% had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) between 2001-2003.
Rates of mental health or substance abuse conditions were highest among survey participants less than 45 years old, Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black adults, essential workers, unpaid adult caregivers, and people previously diagnosed with anxiety, depression or PTSD.
While studies on mental health impacts of COVID-19 are limited so far, other studies have described increases in anxiety, depression, insomnia and distress among healthcare workers and high rates of anxiety and depression among teenagers in China during the COVID-19 lockdown as well as during previous quarantines and epidemics.
Speaking purely anecdotally from my experience and conversations with colleagues and friends, healthcare workers and professional caregivers are under tremendous pressure during this pandemic. We need to take care of our patients or clients, our children and, in some cases, our elderly parents, but we so rarely have the time to take care of ourselves.
Take a few minutes today to take your own emotional temperature:
- How has your sleep been? Have you had any difficulty falling or staying asleep? Do you wake up rested or tired?
- Have you lost interest in things that you used to enjoy?
- Do you feel guilty or blame yourself for things?
- Do you have the same energy level you used to have before COVID-19?
- Are you having any difficulty concentrating or changes to the way you think?
- How is your appetite?
- Has anyone noticed you moving or talking more slowly than usual? Does it take you longer to think than it used to?
- Do you feel nervous, anxious or on edge?
- Do you have difficulty relaxing and/or stopping worrying?
- Do you ever have panic attacks (feelings of intense fear, typically with your heart racing, chest tightness, your breath coming rapidly, sweating and/or dizziness)?
- Do you have unwanted memories or nightmares about COVID-19 or another traumatic event?
- Do you go out of your way to avoid hearing or talking about COVID-19 or another trauma?
- Are you irritable or easily startled?
- Are these symptoms causing trouble in your day-to-day life?
- Have you ever thought about killing yourself, that you are worthless, that you’d be better off dead or that other people would be better off without you?
If you’re feeling any of the above, please, talk to someone you trust, whether a family member, a friend, or a counselor. If you don’t know where to get help or particularly if you’re thinking about suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or the National Alliance on Mental Illness HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264). Check out resources for stress and coping during COVID-19 from the CDC and the How Right Now initiative, and the CDC’s COVID-19 Parental Resources Kit for tools to help address your kids’ social, emotional and mental health during the pandemic.
Above all, remember that you are important, you are needed, and you are worth it. And please, reach out to a hotline or a counselor if you’re having a hard time.
Stay strong,
❤️ Dr. B