2 Years Later: Depression and the Pandemic

admin • June 27, 2022

It has been over two years since the pandemic hit, and many people are still struggling with depression. This is not surprising, given all that has happened. The loss of loved ones, the fear of catching the disease, and the upheaval of our normal routines left many people feeling lost and alone. If you are one of those people who is still struggling with depression, know that you are not alone. There are treatments available that can help you get your life back on track. The CONVERSATION UK launched a national study in March 2020 measuring mental health and assets. COVID-19 was a national emergency , as deaths were on the rise. Schools, workplaces and government offices closed as Americans were urged to stay home. At that time, we found that 27.8% of U.S. adults in our study reported symptoms of depression, such as losing interest in activities or feeling down or hopeless. This number was over three times as high as the national pre-pandemic depression estimate of 8.5%.

Most striking was that a year into the pandemic, depression rates remained high, despite hopeful signs of reducing infections and deaths. In April 2021, people were lining up for COVID-19 vaccine shots , doctors were finding better COVID-19 treatments and efforts to reopen society were under way. But by that point, the share of adults in our survey reporting symptoms of depression had gone up to 32.8%.

Worse yet, that higher 2021 number included 20.3% who had reported symptoms of depression both in April 2020 and in April 2021. This finding suggests that poor mental health driven by the pandemic was both prevalent and persistent.

What are people most depressed about as it pertains to the pandemic?

It was found that people in households earning less than US$20,000 a year were 3.5 times as likely to report persistent depression symptoms as those making $75,000.

It was also found that people who had $5,000 or more in savings or a bank account reported less persistent depression. Having more assets, however, did not reduce the depression inducing stress of losing a job, suffering relationship problems or experiencing financial difficulties during the pandemic.

Why it matters

Nearly 1 million U.S. lives have been lost to COVID-19, and there have been almost 5 million hospitalizations. But measuring the effect of the pandemic on the nation’s mental health is just beginning. And we believe the pandemic’s sustained impact on the nation’s mental health is unprecedented.

What we don’t know is whether depression and anxiety will continue to be such a significant problem in the months and years ahead. What we do know is that people who were struggling with mental health problems before the pandemic are still struggling, and that many more people have joined them.

This suggests that depression and anxiety caused by the pandemic may become a long-term public health concern, one that requires both immediate attention and sustained focus. We need to find ways to support those who are struggling now and help prevent others from experiencing these problems in the first place.

If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, there are resources available to help. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/seven, free and confidential support for people in distress, as well as prevention and crisis resources. You can also call the Lifeline
at 800-273-TALK (800-273-82553).If you are in a crisis, text "HOME" to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line. Trained counselors are available 24/seven. Lastly, visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness' website for additional resources and support options. Together, we will get through this.

Parts of the post were originally published on The Conversation UK.

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