More Than 169,000 People Screen Positive For Depression Or Anxiety Since The Start Of The Pandemic

Alexandria, VA –The COVID-19 pandemic continues to exact a huge toll on the mental health of the nation. As of the end of June, more than 7,000 people each day were going to Mental Health America’s (MHA) web site (www.mhascreening.org) to take a voluntary, anonymous mental health screen.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, nearly 170,000 total screeners screened positive (moderate to severe) for either anxiety or depression – over and above November to January baselines.

In addition, in June alone 18,000 additional screeners were positive (at risk) for psychosis, continuing a spike that began in May, when more than 16,000 screened positive for psychosis.

“We continue to see staggering numbers that indicate increase rates in depression and anxiety because of COVID-19,” commented Paul Gionfriddo, president and CEO of Mental Health America. “It is clear the mental effects are impacting people now – and will continue for those who mourn loved ones and for those whose anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and other serious conditions are left untreated. The country and the world will pay a price if we don’t take all of this very seriously."

Read the full article here.

Check out MHA's online mental health screening program.

For a slide deck with additional results and trends in the MHA data, please click here.