EDITOR’S NOTE: Some of the information in this article may be outdated due to progress in COVID-19 research.

Masks. Shutdowns. Rising cases.

It’s been eight months since we were first impacted by the novel coronavirus. It’s been a struggle for many. How are you doing? How are you feeling lately? Are you having a hard time? Do you feel lost, down, or apathetic to life lately?

We understand. We and many others are right along with you.

Since March, there’s been a rise in mental health concerns – more specifically, with anxiety and depression. With that, many of us struggle to find the time to manage our mental and physical health. Throughout this article, we’ll explore mental health in the age of COVID-19.

Complications Complicate Coronavirus

According to the World Health Organization, the United States officially reported its first case of the novel coronavirus on January 21, 2020. Since then, there’s been over 200,000 cases and a prevalence of mental health complications.

There are many reasons why there’s been a rise in mental health issues. Whether it be lockdowns or this “new normal” we’re all experiencing.

With COVID panic comes paranoia. This is only exasperated if you have a history of anxiety or a panic-related disorder, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Here’s a list of the conditions most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic:

Anxiety

There’s no denying COVID has left a lingering anxiety in us all. However, for those who already struggle with anxiety disorders, this pandemic has been even more of a nightmare.

According to the Associate Press, between March and July 2020, calls to the Disaster Distress Helpline surged 335% compared to the same period last year. This service offers counseling and emotional support to those in desperate need.

The significance here is social isolation has made it difficult to find anxiety relief. Whether that’s medical treatment or a social support group, most are trying to handle fear by themselves. It’s reached a point where one in three Americans struggled with anxiety directly due to COVID-19. ¹

Depression

On average, major depressive disorders (depression) affect about 6% of Americans. ² However, since COVID-19, that rate has skyrocketed:

• 24.6% of the population has struggled with mild depression.
• 14.8% of the population has struggled with moderate depression.

From March to September of this year, depression-related searches have also risen on Google Trends. Most are looking for relief. While this has helped to spread awareness of the condition, it’s also concerning.

Most experts agree that depression lockdowns have led to an increase in loneliness and a decrease in life satisfaction. ³ On top of that, there’s been an increase in psychological distress. ⁴ As such, many struggle to get into routine practices that help diminish depression, such as socialization and exercise.

For these cases, we recommend telehealth. Talk therapy can be a great way to get back into social interactions and help you better understand your emotions.

Substance Abuse

With a rise in other mental health conditions, it’s only natural there’s also been an increase in substance abuse. ⁵ When we feel stressed, depressed, and anxious, we tend to seek out any means of medicating these sensations. And for many, drugs and alcohol are a convenient option. ⁶

Unfortunately, addiction treatment may be difficult during lockdowns. Without social intervention, many may find themselves slipping away into unhealthy habits. Still, there are options available.

Suicidal Thoughts and Actions

The rate of suicide since the pandemic started has seen a concerning rise as well. Suicidal ideation and actions are most common in young adults, ranging from 18 to 25 years of age. The majority of these cases are young men. ⁷

Other key demographics were minorities and essential workers. This likely has to do with the rise in financial hardships and overworking (among essential workers) since the beginning of this pandemic. However, social isolation and the inability to reach out to support groups isn’t helping.

Finding Answers and Relief

We’re all in this together. So, what can we do to help one another? It’s a loaded question with no easy answer. Still, there are two steps we can all take to ensure the betterment of everyone’s mental health:

1.) Reach Out

With social isolation, it can be easy for us to get into the habit of not reaching out to one another. This is detrimental as it goes against our natural tendency to be social creatures.

We encourage you to reach out to loved ones, even if you think they’re doing okay. Just check in and see how things are going. Even if everything is fine, they’ll likely feel encouraged to receive your call.

On top of that, if you struggle with a mental illness, it’s important to reach out to your support group. Even if you can’t see them face-to-face, a phone or video call may make all the difference. It’s important to remain connected during these uncertain times.

Men and Mental Health: A Worrying Predicament

One of the biggest mental health concerns of the pandemic has to do with men. They’re less likely to reach out for help during difficult times. ⁸

As such, suicide rates among men are higher. ⁹ They’re also more likely to turn to develop a substance dependence to battle mental illness. ¹⁰

If there’s a man in your life that you’re concerned about, we highly recommend reaching out to him. In such cases, he’s less likely to take the first step in ameliorating his condition.

2.) Find Help

So, how can we slow down this scary situation? If you struggle with a mental health condition, the best thing you can do for yourself is seek treatment.

Still, you may be in a situation where your healthcare coverage is an issue. Or, you may feel self-conscious about reaching out to those in your life for help. Luckily, there are resources for people in these situations.

Here’s a list of mental health services and crisis lines to consider:

• The 988 Suicide & Crisis lifeline for those struggling with suicidal thoughts. If you or a loved one is experiencing suicidal action, it’s vital to call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room immediately.

• The Crisis Text Line is a free test line for those struggling with depression, bullying, self-harm, anxiety, and concerns over COVID-19. You can text 741741 anywhere in the US or message them on their website. Crisis Text Line trains volunteers to support people in crisis and is available 24/7.

References

¹ Delpino FM, da Silva CN, Jerônimo JS, Mulling ES, da Cunha LL, Weymar MK, Alt R, Caputo EL, Feter N. Prevalence of anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis of over 2 million people. J Affect Disord. 2022 Dec 1;318:272-282. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.09.003. Epub 2022 Sep 10. PMID: 36096370; PMCID: PMC9462928.

² Ettman CK, Abdalla SM, Cohen GH, Sampson L, Vivier PM, Galea S. Prevalence of Depression Symptoms in US Adults Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Netw Open. 2020 Sep 1;3(9):e2019686. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.19686. PMID: 32876685; PMCID: PMC7489837.

³ Hettich N, Entringer TM, Kroeger H, Schmidt P, Tibubos AN, Braehler E, Beutel ME. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on depression, anxiety, loneliness, and satisfaction in the German general population: a longitudinal analysis. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2022 Dec;57(12):2481-2490. doi: 10.1007/s00127-022-02311-0. Epub 2022 Jun 9. PMID: 35680681; PMCID: PMC9181932.

⁴ Xiong J, Lipsitz O, Nasri F, Lui LMW, Gill H, Phan L, Chen-Li D, Iacobucci M, Ho R, Majeed A, McIntyre RS. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in the general population: A systematic review. J Affect Disord. 2020 Dec 1;277:55-64. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.08.001. Epub 2020 Aug 8. PMID: 32799105; PMCID: PMC7413844.

⁵ Chacon NC, Walia N, Allen A, Sciancalepore A, Tiong J, Quick R, Mada S, Diaz MA, Rodriguez I. Substance use during COVID-19 pandemic: impact on the underserved communities. Discoveries (Craiova). 2021 Dec 31;9(4):e141. doi: 10.15190/d.2021.20. PMID: 35261922; PMCID: PMC8896880.

⁶ Smith LL, Yan F, Charles M, Mohiuddin K, Tyus D, Adekeye O, Holden KB. Exploring the Link Between Substance Use and Mental Health Status: What Can We Learn from the Self-medication Theory? J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2017;28(2S):113-131. doi: 10.1353/hpu.2017.0056. PMID: 28458268.

⁷ Yan Y, Hou J, Li Q, Yu NX. Suicide before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Feb 14;20(4):3346. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20043346. PMID: 36834037; PMCID: PMC9960664.

⁸ Chatmon BN. Males and Mental Health Stigma. Am J Mens Health. 2020 Jul-Aug;14(4):1557988320949322. doi: 10.1177/1557988320949322. PMID: 32812501; PMCID: PMC7444121.

⁹ Fowler KA, Kaplan MS, Stone DM, Zhou H, Stevens MR, Simon TR. Suicide Among Males Across the Lifespan: An Analysis of Differences by Known Mental Health Status. Am J Prev Med. 2022 Sep;63(3):419-422. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2022.02.021. Epub 2022 Jun 7. PMID: 35987559; PMCID: PMC9437900.

¹⁰ McHugh RK, Votaw VR, Sugarman DE, Greenfield SF. Sex and gender differences in substance use disorders. Clin Psychol Rev. 2018 Dec;66:12-23. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2017.10.012. Epub 2017 Nov 10. PMID: 29174306; PMCID: PMC5945349.