A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that surveyed adults in the U.S. in late June of 2020 found that:
- 31% of respondents reported symptoms of anxiety or depression
- 26% reported stress-related symptoms
- 13% started or increased substance use
- 11% had serious thoughts of suicide in the past 30 days
These numbers are nearly double the rates the CDC would have expected before the pandemic. However, the pandemic is only one driving factor for the increased need for mental healthcare services. The demand for treatment for anxiety, depression and other mental health issues was growing even before COVID-19.
“What was a serious concern before the pandemic has now transformed into a major public health crisis,” according to The Century Foundation.
In addition, businesses are now paying more attention to the mental health and wellbeing of their employees as staff shortages are becoming commonplace. As noted in an article by Axios, “employees’ mental health is quickly becoming a top concern for companies as they try to hold on to workers through the pandemic.”