But this international crisis continues, and Americans are having trouble adjusting to the tensions of our new reality.
New psychological data taken during the pandemic shows the nation’s mental health is enduring, according to data reported this week as part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Suicidal ideation has been high among young people since last year, with as many as one in four people aged 18 to 24 seriously considering suicide in the 30 days prior to the survey, according to the report, in which researchers surveyed 5,412 adults in the US between 24 and 30 June.
In the general U.S. population, the CDC reported that 11% of the surveyed adults had considered serious suicide in the past 30 days before completing the survey. Among those who identified Black as Hispanic, the numbers were lower: 19% of Hispanics reported suicidal ideas and 15% of Blacks reported suicidal thoughts.
The results reflect a nation increasingly on edge. The number of Americans reporting anxiety symptoms is three times the number at this same time last year, the CDC said.
The pandemic is a new type of challenge
“Past events have a beginning, middle, an end,” said Vaile Wright, senior director of innovation for health care for the American Psychological Association. “People can’t let go here.”
Unlike events like 9/11 or hurricanes, the coronavirus pandemic is not just what people see on the news, limited to a specific time and place. It’s everywhere, and it does not seem to have an end date.
“No one is immune to the stress of the pandemic,” Wright said.
Add to that the pressure of the economy, the increased control over racial injustice and the looming spectacle of the presidential election, and it’s hard for many to feel that things can turn out OK.
The emotional burden is heavier on those who report that they have recently been treated for mental or emotional problems, the CDC report said. In particular, the stress falls disproportionately on the boy.
“We consistently hear that young people are struggling and having a hard time,” she said.
There are ways to seek help
On an individual level, Wright noted that the most important pillars of psychological health include eating healthy, staying active, getting enough sleep, and maintaining social connections.
“More often than not we are in stress, it’s hard to come up with a game plan,” she said. “Friends and family play that role.”
But figuring out healthy ways to socialize cleanly may require being intentional. Passive thumbing via social media as ‘doom scrolling’ does not make sense as it supports social interaction, Wright said.
If you are on social media, it is better to try to engage directly or respond to others, she said. In particular, if someone you know or love stops dealing with, that may be a sign that it’s time to reach out.
“You can say things like ‘I’m worried about you,’ and ask if they eat, sleep and take care of themselves, ‘Wright said.
You can encourage them to seek professional help from a therapist or counselor. That process is actually a little easier now during the pandemic, Wright explained, referring to APA data that 75% of mental health providers have switched to telehealth.
“Providers are available, and we know teletherapy is effective,” she said.
The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention recommends that those who need emotional support related to Covid-19 should call the Disaster Distress Helpline (800-985-5990), as text TalkWithUs to 66746.
And if you are experiencing a suicide crisis, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or text the Crisis Text line by texting HOME to 741741 for assistance.
Even if you are not in a crisis, it can be found in essential ways, though often virtually as physically distant, Wright said, to maintain bonds with others and do what we can to support each other before entering a crisis mode.
Many did so well in the spring, when the nation entered the pandemic, she felt. And the mental health of the nation now requires us to recall the same spirit.
“As a community, we need to collectively rise again,” Wright said.
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