As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its second year, new fast-spreading variants have caused a surge in infections in many countries, and renewed lockdowns. The devastation of the pandemic — millions of deaths, economic strife and unprecedented curbs on social interaction — has already had a marked effect on people’s mental health. Researchers worldwide are investigating the causes and impacts of this stress, and some fear that the deterioration in mental health could linger long after the pandemic has subsided. Ultimately, scientists hope that they can use the mountains of data being collected in studies about mental health to link the impact of particular control measures to changes in people’s well-being, and to inform the management of future pandemics.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic recession have negatively affected many people’s mental health and created new barriers for people already suffering from mental illness and substance use disorders. During the pandemic, about 4 in 10 adults in the U.S. have reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder, a share that has been largely consistent, up from one in ten adults who reported these symptoms from January to June 2019.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted or halted critical mental health services in 93% of countries worldwide while the demand for mental health is increasing, according to a new WHO survey. The survey of 130 countries provides the first global data showing the devastating impact of COVID-19 on access to mental health services and underscores the urgent need for increased funding.

Self-care can be whatever you want or need it to be. The best part about a self-care plan is that it’s your plan, and nobody else’s. These tips from the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) curriculum can help you practice self-care and take care of your mental health during COVID-19.

Citation: Etheridge, Ben; Spantig, Lisa (2020) : The gender gap in mental well-being during the Covid-19 outbreak: Evidence from the UK, ISER Working Paper Series, No. 2020-08, University of Essex, Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER), Colchester

In this paper the authors use rich and representative longitudinal data to document a large decline in mental well-being after the Covid outbreak in the UK. Consistently with the existing evidence, they show a disproportionate decline for women, twice as large as for men.

COVID-19 has upended our daily routines, our future plans, and our lifestyles. Here are some of the best ways to manage stress, sleep, physical activity, eating well, and more to take care of you right now.

Citation:

Prime, H., Wade, M., & Browne, D. T. (2020). Risk and resilience in family well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. American Psychologist.

The current article draws from pertinent literature across topic areas of acute crises and long-term, cumulative risk to illustrate the multitude of ways in which the well-being of children and families may be at risk during COVID-19.

Citation:  

Salerno, J. P., Devadas, J., Pease, M., Nketia, B., & Fish, J. N. (2020). Sexual and Gender Minority Stress Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications for LGBTQ Young Persons’ Mental Health and Well-Being. Public Health Reports, 135(6), 721–727. https://doi.org/10.1177/0033354920954511

The indirect psychological harms of the COVID-19 pandemic for those who belong to minoritized communities are complicated, exacerbated, and compounded by experiences and stressors specific to their marginalized social identities. In this regard, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning (LGBTQ) adolescents and young adults have received limited public health attention. This commentary aims to provide a nuanced perspective on the potential indirect mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis on LGBTQ young persons.

The COVID-19 pandemic was an exponential shock to much of the U.S. population and also exposed deep vulnerabilities associated with our fragmented health care system and our extreme income inequality. African Americans, for example, who suffer from racial as well as income inequalities, also suffered disproportionately from COVID-19 incidence and mortality. Predominantly black counties have COVID-19 infection rates that are nearly three times higher than that of predominantly white counties. According to the CDC, while they make up just 12.5 percent of the U.S. population, they account for 23 percent of COVID-19 deaths and are 3.5 times more likely to die from the disease compared to white populations.

Self-care is a critical part of well-being, but how do you make time for yourself in the middle of a pandemic? This website contains a list of resources, activities, webinars, podcasts, and more. This collection of resources was started by ACR Well-Being Workgroup member Rebecca Seidel, MD, also chair of the Wellness Committee at Emory University, in her efforts to combat the toll of COVID-19.