Infectious Disease
Compared to that time last year, more people are now reporting pandemic-related psychological effects
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The fear of the COVID-19 pandemic is still great. According to recent survey results from the American Psychiatric Association, more people are reporting psychological effects compared to that time last year.
Parents said they were particularly concerned about their children’s mental health.
Jeffrey Geller
“This poll shows that, despite the increasing prevalence of vaccines, Americans are still concerned about the mental health of their children,” said the APA president Jeffrey Geller, MD, MPH, said in a press release. “This is a call to action for policy makers who need to remember that in our COVID-19 recovery, there is no health without mental health.”
The APA sponsored the online survey of 1,000 US adults between March 26 and April 5.
The results showed that 64% of participants were afraid that family and loved ones would get COVID-19, compared with 49% who were afraid of getting the virus themselves. From last year to this year, concerns about family members and loved ones contracting COVID-19 rose from 56% to 64%. A total of 73% of Hispanics / Latinos, 76% of Black / African Americans, and 59% of Whites said they were afraid of the virus. Overall, 41% of participants said they were more anxious this year than they were last year.
A total of 43% of adults reported severe psychological effects from the pandemic, up from 37% since last year, with 59% of younger adults reporting these effects more frequently. A total of 24% of older adults reported severe psychological effects.
A total of 53% of adults with children under 18 in their household said they were concerned about their children’s mental health. 48% said the pandemic caused mental health problems in at least one of their children. More than 25% of parents reported seeking professional mental health help for their children due to the pandemic, and 49% of parents with children under the age of 18 reported that their child had had help from a mental health professional since the pandemic began had received. Of these children, 23% received help from a family doctor, 18% from a psychiatrist, 15% from a psychologist, 13% from a therapist, 10% from a social worker, and 10% from a school counselor or school psychologist.
Regarding COVID-19 vaccines, 76% of participants said they had or will be vaccinated, 22% said they did not plan to vaccinate, and 2% were unsure. A total of 53% of those who did not want to be vaccinated said that the side effects of the vaccine were primarily of concern.
Saul Levin
“While most people, including most children, will likely adapt and recover well when we emerge from the pandemic, we know from previous research that the psychological effects of this trauma and hardship will continue to have implications for some in the future . ” APA CEO and Medical Director Saul Levin, MD, MPA, said in the publication. “We have to be ready to help those who need it in the months and years to come.”
Reference:
APA. New APA Poll Shows Persistent Fear Among Americans; More than half of parents are concerned about their children’s mental wellbeing. Accessed May 5, 2021.Available at: https://www.psychiatry.org/newsroom/news-releases/new-apa-poll-shows-sustained-anxiety-among-americans-more-than-half-of- parents -are-concerned-about-the-spiritual-well-being-of-their-children.
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