Mental Health, Substance Use, and Suicidal Ideation During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, June 24–30, 2020

Abstract

† Disorders classified as TSRDs in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), acute stress disorder (ASD), and adjustment disorders (ADs), among others. § Unpaid adult caregiver status was self-reported. The definition of an unpaid caregiver for adults was a person who had provided unpaid care to a relative or friend aged ≥18 years to help them take care of themselves at any time in the last 3 months. Examples provided included helping with personal needs, household chores, health care tasks, managing a person's finances, taking them to a doctor's appointment, arranging for outside services, and visiting regularly to see how they are doing. ¶ Essential worker status was self-reported. The comparison was between employed respondents (n = 3,431) who identified as essential versus nonessential. For this analysis, students who were not separately employed as essential workers were considered nonessential workers.

Mental Health, Physical Activity, and Quality of Life of US Adolescent Athletes During COVID-19–Related School Closures and Sport Cancellations: A Study of 13 000 Athletes

“…no prior researchers who have evaluated the physical and mental health of adolescent athletes in the United States during the pandemic. [16][17][18] Before the school closures and sport cancellations during the 2019-2020 academic year, 18 000 US high schools offered interscholastic athletics programs. 19 Organized sport participation is recognized as having profound positive influences on the health and well-being of adolescent students.…”

Suicide Ideation and Attempts in a Pediatric Emergency Department Before and During COVID-19

“…In a recent study of U.S. adults, more than 40% of respondents reported adverse mental health or increased substance use in June, 2020. 8 Furthermore, research shows that participants in shelter in place or lockdown due to COVID-19 experienced increasing rates of suicide ideation as months passed, whereas participants not under these COVID restrictions did not. 9 Resultingly, experts in the field are publishing resources aimed specifically at treating suicide with the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) 10 and safety planning 11 through the lens of the COVID-19 pandemic.…”

Preventing COVID-19 Infection in Mental Health Units: Recommendations for Best Practices

“…The worldwide COVID-19 crisis has disrupted routines, imposed unprecedented physical distancing measures, and caused widespread unemployment and financial instability (Nicola et al, 2020). These concerns may destabilize patients with established mental disorders such as anxiety disorder and depression, substance abuse and suicidal ideation, or be associated with mental health problems in previously undiagnosed individuals (Czeisler et al, 2020;Salari et al, 2020). Czeisler and colleagues (2020) indicated that adults in the United States reported an increase in adverse mental health conditions related to COVID-19 such as anxiety, depression, and trauma/stressors related disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).…”