Late last month, as the weight of the 19-COVID crisis the country was going down his back, over a quarter of American adults meet the criteria that psychologists use to diagnose severe mental distress and illness. This represents a 700% increase in pre-pandemic in 2018. Although this increase in mental illness in all age appeared data collection and demographic groups, young adults and families with children have experienced the strongest peaks. Among adults living at home with children under the age of 18, the rate of serious difficulty has increased from only 3% in 2018 to 37% last month. These figures are among the grave, if not altogether surprising results of a new study conducted by researchers at San Diego State University and Florida State University. The study is currently in Preprint, that is, have not yet experienced the formal peer review and publication. While preliminary, the data are the first to provide details on the extent of the psychological struggles crown linked the country. Last month, about 70% of Americans with moderate to severe mental anguish-triple the rate in 2018 has seen experts “I expected to be an increase, but even I was surprised by how big it was,” says Jean Twenge, co- author of the study and professor of psychology at San Diego State University. Twenge the study data used in 2018 under the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), an annual survey of tens of thousands of Americans came together that is monitored by a branch of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The NHIS included a scale of six points on validated research designed to measure mental illness. Last month, Twenge and her colleagues used the same scale in six points to assess the mental health of more than 2,000 Americans scattered across the country. They compared their numbers to 2018 data to produce their results. Twenge says that the severity of mental health discrepancies can arise, their study should not come as a shock. “In a way, it’s a perfect storm for mental health problems,” he says. “We are dealing with social isolation, anxiety about the economic and health problems. These are all situations associated with mental health challenges, and many of us beat at a time.” The researchers affiliated with the study Twenge they say that the top of the loss of jobs and health risks associated with obvious COVID-19, the uncertainty caused many psychological distress Americans. “People do not know when we go to a normal life to return, and this is quite afraid cause,” says Dr. Gary Small, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of California, Los Angeles. The COVID-19 crisis has forced politicians and officials of the US Public Health in a loose-loose dilemma: Both groups are evaluating now life and death risk that people with the virus against many hardships created by stay-at – lines driving home exposes and closures. More and more members of each group, the psychological impact of each scenario, including the specter of increasing depression and suicide rates associated discussed. This new study seems to substantiate these concerns. While some may point to the psychological effect as a reason the economy and the removal of restrictions to open again, Twenge says that even approach the subject is. “They opened too early and then neighbor who could backtrack very negative consequences of a mental health perspective, as a further increase in mental suffering,” he says. “If there is a political message here,” he adds, “is that people are suffering, and we need resources in an environment of mental health treatment.
COVID-19 Psychological Toll: psychological distress among Americans has tripled during the pandemic, compared to 2018
