As the number of cases of COVID-19 increase, so does the associated anxiety.
For the general public, the mental health effects of COVID-19 are as important to address as are the physical health effects. And for the
one in five who already have mental health conditions – or the one in two who are at risk of developing them
– we need to take personal, professional, and policy measures now to address them.
For the past several weeks, our national Mental Health of America office has been using its unique database to monitor daily this increase in anxiety. According to their screening data, they experienced a
19 percent increase in screening for clinical anxiety
in the first weeks of February, and a
12 percent increase
in the first two weeks of March.
This suggests that screeners represent thousands of people whose lives and sense of well-being are being severely impacted by concerns about the virus.
Fortunately, there are many available resources to help each of us enhance overall well-being through increased practices of self care and mental health support.
