Over half of US adults who responded to a new survey said COVID-19 has impacted their mental health. To what extent? Find out in our new slideshow.
In honor of May being National Mental Health Awareness Month, SingleCare recently conducted an online survey of 1000 US adults aged ≥18 years to find out how they are responding psychologically to the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In the slides below, you'll find the key takeaways for primary care.
Overall, 59% of survey participants said COVID-19 has impacted their mental health and 48% reported they are concerned that quarantining/sheltering-in-place has affected their mental health. Furthermore, 29% of adults reported feeling lonely; 35% reported feeling depressed; 37% reported feeling isolated; 48% reported feeling anxious; 49% reported feeling stressed out; and 20% said they were not affected.
Thirty-six percent of survey participants reported experiencing weight gain as a result of COVID-19. Compared to increased anxiety and stress levels, weight gain was the third most common "symptom" of COVID-19 listed by participants.
Activity changes before vs during COVID-19 pandemic. The survey found a decrease in participants who reported walking outside during the pandemic (48%) vs before (59%) as well as those who were exercising before the pandemic (45%) vs during (38%). There was also a decrease in adults who reported getting enough sleep before the pandemic (32%) vs during (24%). Calls and/or video chats increased with 25% of respondents who said they participated in that activity before the pandemic vs 33% during the pandemic.
Approximately 32% of respondents said they have sought treatment or take medication for their mental health. One-third of participants said they think the cost of therapy/doctor's appointments is the biggest barrier to mental health care; 14% said finding the right doctor is a barrier to getting help; and 15% said there's a stigma surrounding mental health that prevents people from seeking help when needed.
Overall, 58% of respondents reported they have worried that they won't be able to afford mental health treatment or medication. Also, 35% reported that they have skipped medications to save money and 43% have skipped treatment appointments to save money.
