More Americans Under 30 Report Pandemic Anxiety and Depression (CDC)

(Reuters) – Younger adults in the United States reported being anxious or depressed during the last six months of the COVID-19 pandemic and fewer people reported receiving the help they needed, according to a U.S. government study United published on Friday.

The percentage of adults under the age of 30 with recent symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder increased significantly about five months after the United States imposed COVID-19-related blockades, and reported an increase in virus deaths. of rapid spread.

Between August 2020 and February 2021, this figure increased to 41.5%, from 36.4%, as well as the percentage of these people who reported that they needed, but did not receive, advice on mental health.

The study suggests that the increase in symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder reported corresponds to the weekly number of COVID-19 cases reported.

The findings are based on a household dust survey conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Census Bureau to monitor changes in mental health status and access to health care. care during the pandemic.

“Mental health trends can be used to assess the impact of strategies addressing the state and mental health care of adults during the pandemic,” the study’s authors wrote in the weekly report of CDC morbidity and mortality published Friday.

The study also found that those with lower secondary education were at higher risk, although it did not provide any explanation.

Even with more vaccines being licensed from the end of 2020, the effects of the pandemic on mental health continued until 2021.

Between January 20, 2021 and February 1, 2021, approximately two out of five adults over the age of 18 experienced recent symptoms of anxiety or a depressive disorder, according to the survey.

Demand for mental health and meditation applications and investments in technology companies building these applications have also increased during this period.