Mental health concerns are on the rise across the board, and especially among Blacks, seniors, young adults and LGBTQIA people, a new survey finds.
CVS Health and Morning Consult polled more than 2,200 adults in early April and found that 59% of respondents have experienced challenges with their mental health or that of a friend or family member. That is a 9% increase over 2020 survey data.
More than half (57%) of people surveyed who identify as LGBTQIA expressed concern about their own mental health, 20 percentage points higher than other groups included in the study. Nearly three-quarters (74%) of those aged 18 to 34 said they experienced such concerns either themselves or for a friend or family member, up 12 percentage points from 2020.
The survey also found an 11 percentage point increase in mental health concerns among Black respondents compared to pre-COVID levels. A double-digit increase was also found among people over age 65; about 40% reported mental health concerns for themselves or family and friends, up 10 percentage points from 2020.
Cara McNulty, president of behavioral health and mental well-being at CVS Health, said in a statement that these rising numbers are driving investments in mental health care both for patients and internally for its own employees.
“The impact of isolation, loss, grief and burnout will effect of our mental health for years to come,” McNulty said.
The survey did find have some positive findings, too. For one, more than half of those surveyed (53%) said that hearing about others' mental health challenges makes them more comfortable in seeking out care and resources for their own needs. In addition, 56% said they believe society has gotten more comfortable in discussing mental health concerns under the pandemic.
Nearly two-thirds (63%) said there's greater comfort in using telehealth visits for therapy, and 58% said comfort has grown in using digital tools to improve mental health.
CVS Health CEO Karen Lynch said in a statement that the healthcare giant delivered 10 million virtual mental health visits last year, compared to 20,000 prior to COVID-19.
“Despite the longstanding stigma and other challenges in mental health, there is a clear shift taking place through the power of technology,” Lynch said.