COVID-19 and Mental Health:

What We Are Learning from www.mhascreening.org

September 1, 2020
 2

Mental Health and COVID-19: A Growing Crisis

 From late February thru August 388,961 people screened moderate

to severe for depression or anxiety over and above what we would
have expected prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 From late February thru August an additional 60,233 people screened
at risk for psychosis over and above what we would have expected
prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 Since March 1, 131,122 depression screeners reported suicidal or self-
harm thinking on more than half the days.
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Mental Health and COVID-19: More People Impacted

by Anxiety and Depression
 The per day number of anxiety screenings completed in August was 535% higher than
in January, before coronavirus stress began. The per day number of depression screens
was 709% higher in August than in January.
 There were over 48,000 moderate to severe anxiety screens (79%) and over 94,000
moderate to severe depression screens (85%).
 These impacts on mental health are more pronounced in young people (<25): over 9
in 10 are screening with moderate-to-severe depression, and over 8 in 10 are screening
with moderate-to-severe anxiety.
 “Loneliness and isolation” is cited by the greatest percent of moderate to severe
depression (74%) and anxiety (64%) screeners as contributing to mental health
problems “right now.” These percentages have been steady since mid-April.
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Mental Health and COVID-19: Thoughts of Suicide &

Self-Harm at Epidemic Levels
 In August 2020, 41,008 depression screeners reported thinking of suicide or self-
harm on more than half of days to nearly every day, with 24,009 reporting these
thoughts nearly every day.
 Despite a dramatic jump in screeners in July and August (314,600 in August versus
69,626 in April), severity continued to track higher than our pre-pandemic
baselines.
 Special populations are also experiencing high anxiety and depression, including
LGBTQ, caregivers, students, veterans/active duty, and trauma survivors.
 This isn’t just affecting people with anxiety and depression, but other mental health
conditions, too. Among psychosis screeners in August, over 21,000 were at risk, and
the percentage at risk (76%) also increased.
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MHA Screening (www.mhascreening.org):

Over 6 Million Completed Screens

Depression (PHQ-9) Anxiety (GAD-7) Bipolar (MDQ) PTSD (PC-PTSD)

Alcohol and Substance Psychosis Screen (Ultra-

Youth Screen (PSC-YR) Parent Screen (PSC)
Use Screen (CAGE-AID) High Risk) (PQ-B)

Postpartum Depression
Eating Disorders
(EPDS)

MHA Screening reflects the experiences of a help-seeking population that accesses mental health
screening through www.mhascreening.org.
We do not reach the entire population; therefore our numbers are likely to underreport the actual
experiences of the population.
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Depression, Anxiety, & Psychosis: “Positive” Numbers

Increased Dramatically in May-Aug
90000

80000
Note: Numbers represent excess moderate to severe (depression, anxiety)
70000 or at-risk (psychosis) results since February from prior quarter baselines.

60000

50000

40000

30000

20000

10000

0
Feb Mar Apr May June July August
-10000

Depression+ Anxiety+ Psychosis+

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In August, Per Day Anxiety Screenings Increased by 535% over January

2200

2000

1800

1600

1400

1200

1000

800

600

400

200
1/1 - 1/31 2/1 - 2/29 3/1 - 3/31 4/1 - 4/30 5/1 - 5/31 6/1 - 6/30 7/1 - 7/31 8/1 - 8/31
 8

In August, Per Day Depression Screenings

Increased by 709% over January
4000

3500

3000

2500

2000

1500

1000

500

0
January February March April May June July August

Depression Screenings
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Screeners Are Not “Worried Well”:

Depression Severity Highest In August 2020
Depression Screeners, Percent Moderate to Severe
86.00%

84.00%

82.00%

80.00%

78.00%

76.00%

74.00%
Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July August
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Anxiety Severity Also Highest In August 2020

Anxiety Screeners, Percent Moderate to Severe
80.00%

78.00%
48%
screened
76.00%

74.00%

72.00%
for severe
70.00% anxiety
68.00%

66.00%
Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July August
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More Than 40,000 People Considered Self-Harm or

Suicide in August
25.00% 45000
41008
21.54% 40000
20.60% 20.77%
20.00% 19.66%
18.30% 35000
17.50% 17.48% 30519
16.60%
30000
14.99% 15.25%
15.00% 14.60% 14.66%
25498
14.10% 13.62%
13.20% 13.50% 25000

20000
10.00%
15000

10000
5.00%

5000

0.00% 0
Jan-20 Feb-20 Mar-20 Apr-20 May-20 Jun-20 Jul-20 Aug-20

% Nearly Every Day % More Than Half the Days Total Number, Half to Nearly Every Day
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A/PI, Multiracial, Native Am, Other Experiencing

More Self-Harm Thoughts
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Young People in August Still Disproportionately Experiencing

Depression and Anxiety
Percent Moderate to Severe
100.00%

90.00%

80.00%

70.00%

60.00%

50.00%

40.00%

30.00%

20.00%

10.00%

0.00%

Depression Anxiety
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Young People Experiencing Highest Rates of Suicidal Ideation

Percent with Suicidal Ideation More than half or Nearly every day, August 2020
60.00%

50.00% 17,497
40.00% 11-17-year-
30.00%
olds with
suicidal
20.00%
ideation
10.00%

0.00%
11-17 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+
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Psychosis Screening: Screeners at Risk and

Severity Up in August 2020
25000 78.00%

76.00%

20000
74.00%

72.00%
15000
70.00%

68.00%
10000
66.00%

64.00%
5000

62.00%

0 60.00%
Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July August

Screeners At Risk Percent at Risk

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Special Populations: Positive for Depression and Anxiety

Student

Trauma Survivor

LGBTQ+

Caregiver

New/Exp Mom

Vet/Active Duty

70.00% 75.00% 80.00% 85.00% 90.00% 95.00%

Depression Anxiety
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July Anxiety Screeners: The Main Things Contributing

to Mental Health Problems Right Now
Reason Number of Responders Percent of Respondents
Loneliness or isolation 19063 65.28%
Past trauma 14206 48.65%
Relationship problems 11994 41.07%
Current events (news, politics, etc.) 9009 30.85%
Coronavirus 8578 29.37%

Grief or Loss 7459 25.54%

Financial Problems 7246 24.81%
Racism 3012 10.31%
N=29,202, scoring moderate to severe 7/1-7/31, “Choose up to 3”
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August Anxiety Screeners: The Main Things

Contributing to Mental Health Problems Right Now
Reason Number of Responders Percent of Respondents
Loneliness or isolation 23437 64.42%
Past trauma 17379 47.77%
Relationship problems 14537 39.95%
Current events (news, politics, etc.) 10953 30.10%
Coronavirus 10717 29.46%

Grief or Loss 9210 25.31%

Financial Problems 9197 25.28%
Racism 3289 9.04%
N=36,384, scoring moderate to severe 8/1-8/31, “Choose up to 3”
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July Depression Screeners: The Main Things

Contributing to Mental Health Problems Right Now
Reason Number of Responders Percent of Respondents
Loneliness or isolation 43396 74.39%
Past trauma 26634 45.66%
Relationship problems 25443 43.62%
Grief or loss 15497 26.57%
Coronavirus 14389 24.67%
Current events (news, politics, etc.) 14261 24.45%
Financial Problems 13995 23.99%
Racism 4450 7.63%
N=58,335, scoring moderate to severe 7/1-7/31, “Choose up to 3”
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August Depression Screeners: The Main Things

Contributing to Mental Health Problems Right Now
Reason Number of Responders Percent of Respondents
Loneliness or isolation 56633 73.80%
Past trauma 35290 45.98%
Relationship problems 33672 43.88%
Grief or loss 20925 27.27%
Coronavirus 19424 25.31%
Financial Problems 18850 24.56%
Current events (news, politics, etc.) 18483 24.08%
Racism 5575 7.26%

N=76,743, scoring moderate to severe 8/1-8/31, “Choose up to 3”

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Main Concerns Are Different Across Race/Ethnicity

August 2020

Black or African Native American or

Hispanic or Latino
American screeners cite American Indian
screeners more worried
financial concerns at screeners report more
about COVID-19
highest rate past trauma

Hispanic or Latino Native American or

screeners cite loneliness American Indian
or isolation at highest screeners report most
rates grief or loss
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For More Resources

• For MHA COVID-19 resources:

https://www.mhanational.org/covid19
• For other mental health COVID-19 resources:
https://psychhub.com/covid-19/
• To take a free mental health screen:
https://screening.mhanational.org
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Contact Us Mental Health America

500 Montgomery Street
Suite 820
Alexandria, VA 22314
Facebook.com/mentalhealthamerica
Twitter.com/mentalhealtham
Instagram.com/mentalhealthamerica
Youtube.com/mentalhealthamerica
pgionfriddo@mhanational.org
@pgionfriddo