Medscape (5/3, Brooks, Subscription Publication) reports, “Concern and anxiety around COVID-19 remains high among Americans, with more people reporting mental health effects from the pandemic this year than last, and parents concerned about the mental health of their children,” findings from “a new poll by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) show.” Even though “the overall level of anxiety has decreased from last year’s APA poll, ‘the degree to which anxiety still reigns is concerning,’ APA President Jeffrey Geller, MD, MPH, told Medscape Medical News.” Results of this “latest poll were presented at the virtual American Psychiatric Association 2021 virtual Annual Meeting and are “based on an online survey conducted March 26 to April 5 among a sample of 1000 adults age 18 years or older.
HealthDay (5/3, Preidt) reports, “Among parents, concerns about their children were significant.” Dr. Geller said, “This poll shows that even as vaccines become more widespread, Americans are still worried about the mental state of their children.” Dr. Geller added, “This is a call to action for policymakers, who need to remember that in our COVID-19 recovery, there’s no health without mental health.”
Psychiatric News (5/3) quotes APA CEO and Medical Director Saul Levin, MD, MPA, who stated, “While most people, including most children, will likely adapt and recover well as we emerge from the pandemic, we know from previous research that for some, the mental health impacts of this trauma and distress will continue to have repercussions into the future.” Dr. Levin added, “We need to be prepared to help those who need it in the coming months and years.”
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— Medscape (requires login and subscription)