The mental health issues that came to the forefront during the pandemic have not gone away.
“Mental health became a top concern in 2020 and has only grown since then,” said Dr. Taft Parsons III, vice president and chief psychiatric officer at CVS Health. “Uncertainty about the future, current events, and social media continues to fuel anxiety among adults. Across CVS Health, our priorities are to ensure access to quality virtual and in-person mental health care. “Our goal remains to ensure that we have the resources to improve the quality of life and meet the unique needs of individuals.” ”
The company found in a recent survey that a majority of U.S. adults have serious concerns about their mental health as infection rates continue to rise across the country.
- Two-thirds of adults have experienced concerns about their own mental health or that of a friend or family member, an increase of 6 percentage points from 2022 and 15 percentage points from 2020.
- Around eight in 10 adults are concerned about the country’s overall mental health, considering it their top concern alongside issues such as the economy.
- 70% of parents are concerned about their child’s mental health, higher than concerns about their child’s physical health (66%).
- Respondents are likely to use both mental health apps (48%) and therapists (55%) for care.
Nearly four in 10 adults believe social media is damaging society as a whole. As a result, a third of them have started turning off notifications on social media apps, trying to reduce the time they spend on social media. Around half of parents believe that social media influences their children’s perception of the world and their development. Meanwhile, more than one in three adult girlfriends report that social media has taught them about mental health issues.
“The increased use of technology has increased access to mental health care, created ways for people to talk openly about the subject, and reduced stigma,” Parsons said. “But as we move beyond the effects of social media on mental health, it is increasingly important to highlight its limits and set guardrails for ourselves and our children.”
Many employees look to their employers and colleagues for support. Employee assistance programs (53%) and peer groups (52%) are most trusted for information about mental health issues. 70% of fathers are likely to seek help from their EAP compared to 47% of mothers.
“This data is valuable because it shows a shift in the way people view their employers as reliable support systems in their health and highlights the importance of providing mental health resources in a competitive benefits market. “This is because it highlights gender,” the report concludes.
