Intro The CDC looked at the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine on mental health, substance use, and suicidal ideations. Method: A representative panel survey was conducted among adults ages 18 years and older across the United States. The survey asked questions regarding their mental health and substance use through June 24th to 30, 2020. The survey assessed symptoms of anxiety and depression disorders. Participants were also asked to report whether they had started or increased substance use to cope with the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic. They were also asked if participants and seriously considered suicide in the past 30 days. Analysis: Stratified by race, gender, employment status, essential worker status, adult-care giver status, rural-urban residence, whether respondents knew someone who had s positive COVID-19 test, or someone who had died from COVID-19, whether respondents were diagnosed and receiving treatment for anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at the time of the survey.
Results The prevalence of symptoms of anxiety disorder was approximately three times those reported in the second quarter of 2019 (25.5% versus 8.1%), and the prevalence of depressive disorder was approximately four times that reported in the second quarter of 2019 (24.3% versus 6.5%) (2). 40.9% of respondents reported at least one adverse mental or behavioral health condition, including symptoms of anxiety or depression disorders (30.9%), symptoms of PTSD (26.3%), and have started or increased substance use to cope with stress related to COVID-19 (13.3%). 10.7% of respondents reported having seriously considered suicide in the past 30 days, which was 25.5% higher in participants ages 18-24 and minorities. About 21.7% of respondents who were classified as essential workers had considered suicide in the past 30 days. Discussion There has been an increase in the number of reported mental health conditions substance use, and suicidal ideations in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic in June 2020 compared to June 2019.