Depression rates among Americans have seen a significant rise during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics and Census Bureau revealed that during the third week July 2020, 30% of adults reported to experience symptoms of depression, as opposed to 6.6% in of adults in 2019.

Dr. Maurizio Fava, the psychiatrist-in-chief of the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital is not surprised by the correlation between depression rates and the pandemic. He argues that the increased rate may be explained by the recent spur of emotions, including grief over loss and fear of contamination.

Furthermore, Dr. Elizabeth Reichert of Stanford's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences states that while this unprecedented time has take a burden on everyone, those with pre-existing mental health conditions, such as depression, are vulnerable and may be at an increased risk for longer-term impact.