More than 10 percent of Americans say they have recently given serious consideration to suicide. Among younger adults, that figure rises to over one in four. Thirteen percent of people have reported starting or increasing drug or alcohol use to cope with pandemic-related stress. Nearly one in three say they have symptoms of anxiety or depression.
These alarming statistics, based on a survey from late June, come from a report released this month by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and show that the nation’s mental health has significantly deteriorated during the pandemic.
Unfortunately, there’s no end in sight to the economic uncertainty, closed schools, cramped quarters and social unrest, let alone the fear and risk of illness and death. And if those who are unemployed now continue to go without a job for longer periods, more people will suffer from depression, anxiety and other psychological problems.