Mental Health, Substance Use, and Suicidal Ideation During the COVID-19 Pandemic - United States, June 24-30, 2020

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been associated with mental health challenges related to the morbidity and mortality caused by the disease and to mitigation activities, including the impact of physical distancing and stay-at-home orders.* Symptoms of anxiety disorder and depressive disorder increased considerably in the United States during April-June of 2020, compared with the same period in 2019 (1,2). To assess mental health, substance use, and suicidal ideation during the pandemic, representative panel surveys were conducted among adults aged ≥18 years across the United States during June 24-30, 2020. Overall, 40.9% of respondents reported at least one adverse mental or behavioral health condition, including symptoms of anxiety disorder or depressive disorder (30.9%), symptoms of a trauma- and stressor-related disorder (TSRD) related to the pandemic† (26.3%), and having started or increased substance use to cope with stress or emotions related to COVID-19 (13.3%). The percentage of respondents who reported having seriously considered suicide in the 30 days before completing the survey (10.7%) was significantly higher among respondents aged 18-24 years (25.5%), minority racial/ethnic groups (Hispanic respondents [18.6%], non-Hispanic black [black] respondents [15.1%]), self-reported unpaid caregivers for adults§ (30.7%), and essential workers¶ (21.7%). Community-level intervention and prevention efforts, including health communication strategies, designed to reach these groups could help address various mental health conditions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conflict of interest statement

All authors have completed and submitted the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors form for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. Charles A. Czeisler reports an endowed professorship provided to Harvard Medical School by Cephalon, Inc. for educational and research support to Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital from Philips Respironics, Inc, which supported in part the contract with Qualtrics LLC to administer the survey. Elise R. Facer-Childs reports a grant from the Science and Industry Endowment Fund Ross Metcalf STEM+ Business Fellowship, administered by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. Mark É. Czeisler reports a grant from the Australian-American Fulbright Commission for a research project that was cancelled because of COVID-19. Mark E. Howard reports a grant from the Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Austin Health (Australia). Shantha M.W. Rajaratnam reports a grant from the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University (Australia). Charles A. Czeisler, Elise R. Facer-Childs, Laura K. Barger, Joshua F. Wiley, Matthew D. Weaver, Mark É. Czeisler, Mark E. Howard, Rebecca Robbins, and Shantha M.W. Rajaratnam report contributions by Archangels for the screener used to determine unpaid caregiver status in the survey; and a grant from Whoop, Inc, for administration of the survey in June. No other potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.