A larger share of Americans are now worried about their mental health than at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new CVS Health survey. In March, the country’s largest pharmacy chain entered into a partnership with Morning consultation survey 2,202 US adults.
IN survey results published Thursday, about 65% of respondents said they were worried about their mental health or the health of friends and family, compared with 59% in April 2022 and 50% in April 2020.
“I think the takeaway is that we continue to see behavioral health become more of a focus in the public eye.” Dr. Taft Parsons IIIsays CVS Health vice president and chief psychiatrist Luck. “[COVID-19] has led to a reduction, not an elimination, of the stigma with which people are accustomed to talking about their emotional problems and behavioral health needs.”
Socialization is a stress reliever, Parsons says, and when people faced sudden and prolonged isolation, some turned to virtual mental health treatment: “I think before the pandemic, a lot of people would have just suffered in silence and not gotten help.” what they need.”
Nearly half of respondents, 48%, said they were likely to use mental wellness apps for treatment, while 55% said the same about therapy.
The majority of respondents, 77%, said they were concerned about mental wellbeing nationally. By comparison, 81% said the economy was also a major concern.
“We’re talking about really pressing issues,” Parsons says. “It’s a dinner conversation; people are very concerned about it.”
Respondents identified these issues as concerns:
- Uncertainty about the future: 51%
- Current events: 49%
- Body image/appearance: 35%
The survey results are consistent with a growing body of evidence supporting increased levels of depression and anxietyespecially among young people, says Dr. Itai Danovichchairman Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, which did not participate in the survey.
“Those concerned about their mental health should recognize that we can increase our resilience by prioritizing self-care practices such as ensuring sleep, making time for exercise, reducing excessive consumption of digital media and prioritizing quality time. spent with friends and family,” says Danovich. Luck by email. “For people experiencing severe or persistent mood symptoms, it is extremely important to consult a doctor as there are a variety of effective treatment options that can be tailored to personal values and preferences.”
Although the survey methodology indicates that “data were weighted to approximate the target sample of adults based on age, gender, education level, race, and region,” the published results were not stratified by these demographic characteristics. CVS Health provided Luck additional data shows that 81% of respondents aged 18 to 34 said they were concerned about their mental health or the health of a loved one, up from 74% in 2022 and 62% in 2020. However, it is unclear how this compares to other ages. groups.
Jamie Grill – Getty Images
Social media has pros and cons for mental health
The survey results show that social media is linked to mental health in a variety of positive and negative ways. About 36% of respondents said social media has taught them about mental health. Meanwhile, 37% said they believe social media has harmed society as a whole. A third said they were trying to spend less time on social media and turned off app notifications.
“Many public figures have started speaking out about the need for treatment and the need for treatment through social media and sharing their personal stories,” Parsons says. “From that point of view, it’s very good… it’s good that people can spread the word and spread it quickly.”
Parsons adds: “We’ve also seen some negative effects of this, in terms of people attributing stress and anxiety to things that come through Instagram and other social media, and how it’s impacted our overall ability to get together and collaborate with circles of people.” who are different from us.”
Approximately half of the parents surveyed said they believe social media influences their children’s development and perception of the world. Additionally, parents are more concerned about their children’s mental health (70%) than their physical health (66%).
“Increasing evidence suggests that the adverse effects of social media, especially during childhood, are significant and widespread,” says Danovich. “We have a long way to go in effectively addressing these issues.”
If you need urgent mental health care, contact 988 Suicide and Crisis Helpline.
CVS Health is a sponsor of Fortune WELL.
More on mental health:
Sign up for Well Adapted, our newsletter full of simple strategies to work smarter and live better, from the Fortune Well team. Register free today.