Higher Rates of Distress Exhibited by Individuals with Disabilities, Caregivers, and People with Sleep Problems
New research published in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) focuses on a survey that examined mental health symptoms of American adults during the early phase (April-June 2020) of the coronavirus pandemic. The results of this survey are not particularly shocking. The survey showed that adverse mental health outcomes were more prevalent during the start of the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic times. Examining the survey’s results more carefully, the research team found from April to June 2020, 33% of respondents reported anxiety or depression symptoms, 15% reported increased substance use, and almost 12% reported having seriously considered suicide. Over 40% of American adults reported at least one of these symptoms during this time. Groups with higher rates of adverse mental or behavioral health symptoms included: adults aged 18-24, multigenerational caregivers, individuals with prior psychiatric diagnoses, respondents with disabilities, people with insomnia, and those who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual.
