New Data on Worldwide Mental Health Impact of COVID-19

A new survey that assessed the mental health impact of COVID-19 across the globe shows high rates of trauma and clinical mood disorders related to the pandemic. The survey was conducted in eight English-speaking countries and included 49,000 adults. It showed that 57% of respondents experienced some COVID-19-related adversity or trauma. Roughly one quarter showed clinical signs of or were at risk for a mood disorder, and only 40% described themselves as "succeeding or thriving." Nonbinary gender and not getting enough sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialization also increased the risk for poorer mental well-being. Commenting on the survey results, Ken Duckworth, MD, NAMI CMO, noted that the findings were similar to findings from studies in the U.S., which showed disproportionately higher rates of mental health problems in younger individuals. "The idea that this is an international phenomenon and the broad-stroke finding that younger people are suffering across nations is compelling and important for policymakers to look at," he said. Duckworth noted that although the findings are not "representative" of entire populations in a given country, the report is a "first step in a long journey." Duckworth described the report as "extremely brilliant, creative, and generous, allowing any academician to get access to the data." He sees it "less as a definitive report and more as a directionally informative survey that will yield great fruit over time."