Bold Initiative Aims to Identify Communities in Need of Greater Mental Health Supports Amid the Pandemic
As the nation works to mitigate the public health crisis introduced by COVID-19, there is a critical need to address the mental health crisis exacerbated by the pandemic. Lundbeck is teaming up with Mental Health America (MHA), the nation’s leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness, to assess where support and resources are most urgently needed.
With support from Lundbeck, MHA analyzed data collected from millions of users who visited MHA Screening in 2020 and early 2021. The data represents the largest dataset collected from a help-seeking population experiencing mental health conditions during COVID-19. And it is the basis for a first-of-its-kind dashboard that spotlights mental health “hotspots” across the country.
The mental health dashboard, unveiled in February 2022, displays the anonymized results of mental health screens and provides critical, timely information about mental health risk at the state and county level. The county-level data is particularly valuable, as many counties lack access to timely data on the prevalence of mental health conditions. This makes it challenging to anticipate and address mental health risk, and it presents a substantial barrier to investing in meaningful prevention and early-intervention response at the local level.
Ultimately, access to the data will generate a better understanding of mental health concerns, help direct appropriate allocation of resources and create an environment that promotes mental wellness at the population level.
Learn more about the dashboard here.
A closer look at the risk for four mental health conditions
Over the course of 2021, MHA published four detailed briefs on the risk of suicidality, severe depression, PTSD and trauma, and psychosis.
In addition to geographic findings, the briefs provide insights into how the pandemic has impacted various demographics, including marginalized and minority groups, and the data could inform a more targeted response to communities most in crisis.
Learn more about the detailed findings of the briefs.
Psychosis and COVID-19: Communities in Need Across the U.S.
Analysis finds the number of people self-selecting to take a psychosis screen was nearly 30% higher in 2021 than in 2020. Youth ages 11-17 were the most likely to score at risk of psychotic-like experience in 2020 and 2021, and individuals who reported a lower household income were more likely to screen at risk than those.
Read more here.
Suicide and COVID-19: Communities in Need Across the U.S.
Mental Health America Releases First-Ever State and County-Level Data Analyzing Suicide Risk During COVID-19
Read more here.
Severe Depression and COVID-19: Communities in Need Across the U.S.
Youth Ages 11-17 More Likely Than Any Other Age Groups to Score With Severe Symptoms
Read more here.
Trauma and COVID-19: Communities in Need Across the U.S.
Analysis Shows Increasing Need for Additional Supports to Prevent Development of Future Mental Health Conditions Following the Experience of Trauma, Especially for BIPOC Individuals
Read more here.
