COVID-19 pandemic causes 25% increase in prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide

In the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by a whopping 25%, according to a scientific summary released today by the World Health Organization (WHO). The summary also highlights who is most affected and summarizes the impact of the pandemic on the availability of mental health services and how this changed during the pandemic.

Concerns about the potential increase in mental health have already prompted 90% of countries surveyed to include mental health and psychosocial support in their COVID-19 response plans, but major gaps and concerns remain.

“The information we now have on the impact of COVID-19 on mental health in the world is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This is a call to awaken all countries to pay more attention to mental health and better support the mental health of their populations.”

More stressors

One of the main explanations for the increase is the unprecedented stress caused by the social isolation that results from the pandemic. Related to this were limitations in people’s ability to work, seek support from loved ones, and engage in their communities.

Loneliness, fear of infection, suffering and death for oneself and loved ones, grief after grief and financial worries are also cited as stressors that lead to anxiety and depression. Among health professionals, exhaustion has been a major trigger for suicide thinking.

Young men and women are most affected

The summary, based on a comprehensive review of existing evidence on the impact of COVID-19 on mental health and mental health services, and including estimates from the latest study on the global burden of disease, shows that the pandemic has affected young people’s mental health and is disproportionately at risk. suicidal and self-injurious behaviors. It also indicates that women were more severely affected than men and that people with pre-existing physical health conditions such as asthma, cancer and heart disease were more likely to develop symptoms of mental disorders.

The data suggest that people with pre-existing mental disorders do not appear to be disproportionately susceptible to COVID-19 infection. However, when these people do become infected, they are more likely to experience hospitalization, severe illness and death compared to people without mental disorders. Particularly at risk are people with more severe mental disorders, such as psychosis, and young people with mental disorders.

Gaps in care

This increase in the incidence of mental health problems has coincided with serious disruptions in mental health services, leaving huge gaps in the care of those most in need. During most of the pandemic, mental, neurological, and substance use services were the most disrupted of all basic health services reported by WHO member states. Many countries have also reported major disruptions in life-saving mental health services, including suicide prevention.

By the end of 2021, the situation has improved somewhat, but today too many people are still unable to get the care and support they need for both existing and emerging mental health conditions.

Because they cannot access face-to-face care, many people seek online support, indicating an urgent need to make reliable and effective digital tools accessible and readily available. However, the development and implementation of digital interventions remains a major challenge in countries and environments with limited resources.

WHO and country action

Since the early days of the pandemic, WHO and partners have worked to develop and disseminate resources in multiple languages ​​and formats to help diverse groups cope with and respond to the effects of COVID-19 on mental health. For example, the WHO has produced a book of stories for children aged 6 to 11, My Hero is You, which is now available in 142 languages ​​and 61 multimedia adaptations, as well as a tool to support older adults available in 16 languages.

At the same time, the Organization worked with partners, including other United Nations agencies, international NGOs, and the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, to guide the inter-agency response to mental health and the psychosocial response to COVID-19. Throughout the pandemic, the WHO has also worked to promote the integration of mental health and psychosocial support in all aspects of the global response.

WHO member states have recognized the impact of COVID-19 on mental health and are taking action. The latest pulse survey of the World Health Organization on the continuity of basic health services showed that 90% of countries work on providing mental health and psychosocial support to patients and people who respond to COVID-19. Moreover, at last year’s World Health Assembly, countries stressed the need to develop and strengthen mental health services and psychosocial support as part of strengthening preparedness, response and resilience to COVID-19 and future public health emergencies. They adopted an updated Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2030, which includes an indicator of mental health preparedness and psychosocial support in public health emergencies.

Increase investment

However, this commitment to mental health needs to be accompanied by a global investment step. Unfortunately, the situation highlights a chronic global shortage of mental health resources that continues today. The World Health Organization’s latest Atlas of Mental Health showed that in 2020, governments around the world spent on average just over 2% of their health budgets on mental health, and many low-income countries reported having less than 1 mental health worker per 100,000 People.

Dévora Kestel, director of the WHO’s Department of Mental Health and Substance Use, summarizes the situation: “While the pandemic has sparked interest and concern for mental health, it has also revealed historically insufficient investment in mental health services. Countries need to act urgently to ensure that mental health support is available to all. ”