Study links pandemic, civil unrest to increases in mental health issues
Enid News & EagleJun 12, 2020
The study, Mental Health Incidents in 2020 by State, released by PSYDPrograms.org, is based on data from the nonprofit Mental Health America on anxiety, depression, substance abuse and suicidal thoughts.
Authors of the study point to stay-at-home orders and fear over the coronavirus and riots, and ensuing increases in substance use, as a cause of the rise in mental health disorders.
"Isolation, temptation for substance abuse, extreme anxiety and lack of access to mental health professionals provide all the makings of a mental health crisis," they wrote.
According to the report, 20.3% of adults in
The top five states suffering mental health issues in 2020, according to the report, are
A continued increase in the number of adults suffering mental health issues may be expected, the report finds, as the effects of financial strain and substance abuse take hold.
"So far, the data supports the view that the coronavirus outbreak will exacerbate mental health and substance abuse problems across the country," according to the report. "For example, a one percentage point increase in the unemployment rate has been shown to increase opioid addiction by 3.5%."
The report holds up previous research, which shows the effects of mental health breakdowns and suicide have a greater impact in rural areas, where mental health resources have historically been less accessible, and less accepted.
According to
A 2016
The study found rural counties experienced an average suicide rate of 17.32 per 100,000 people, compared to rates of 14.86 for medium or small metropolitan counties and 11.92 for large metropolitan counties.
For the full PSYDPrograms.org study, visit https://psydprograms.org/incidence-of-mental-health-conditions.
Anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255, text CONNECT to 741741 or chat online at suicidepreventionlifeline.org. Help also is available through the national distress hotline at (800) 985-5990. If someone poses an immediate risk to themselves, call 911.
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