Anthony Fauci, director of NIAID told CBS News Thursday he is “very” concerned about a post-COVID mental health pandemic.
Why does it matter: Three out of four adults in the United States reported a high level of stress related to the pandemic, while one out of four essential workers has been diagnosed with a mental health disorder since the onset of the public health crisis, according to an American Psychological survey Association (APA) held in late February.
- Two out of three Americans said they were sleeping “more or less than they would have liked since the pandemic began,” while nearly one in four reported drinking more alcohol to cope with stress.
- Black Americans are more likely to report “feelings of concern for the future,” according to the APA.
What is he saying: “This is the reason why I want to leave the virological aspect of this pandemic behind, because the long-term devastations are so multifaceted,” said Fauci when asked if he was concerned about a post-COVID mental health pandemic.
- Fauci said that these “damages” included the economic and mental health effects, as well as the “prolonged symptoms” that some people who have had COVID-19 continue to experience.
- He also said he hopes the United States will not see an increase “in some preventable situations” because many people “have postponed the types of routine medical tests they would normally have done”.
Methodologies: The APA’s March 2021 Stress in America survey was conducted online by The Harris Poll between February 19 and 24 among 3,013 adults aged 18 and over who reside in the United States. The interviews were conducted in English and Spanish.