--- title: "Mental Health, Substance Use during COVID-19 Pandemic | Sutter Health" description: "Mental Health, Substance Use, and Suicidal Ideation During the COVID-19 Pandemic" url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/mental-health-substance-use-during-covid-19-pandemic-1055312942" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Research](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research) / 3. [Research publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications) / 4. Mental Health, Substance Use during COVID-19 Pandemic # Mental Health, Substance Use, and Suicidal Ideation During the COVID-19 Pandemic _MMWR Morbidity Mortality Weekly Report_ 2020-08-14 ## Abstract The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been associated with mental health challenges related to the morbidity and mortality caused by the disease and to mitigation activities, including the impact of physical distancing and stay-at-home orders.\* Symptoms of anxiety disorder and depressive disorder increased considerably in the United States during April-June of 2020, compared with the same period in 2019 (1,2). To assess mental health, substance use, and suicidal ideation during the pandemic, representative panel surveys were conducted among adults aged ≥18 years across the United States during June 24-30, 2020. Overall, 40.9% of respondents reported at least one adverse mental or behavioral health condition, including symptoms of anxiety disorder or depressive disorder (30.9%), symptoms of a trauma- and stressor-related disorder (TSRD) related to the pandemic† (26.3%), and having started or increased substance use to cope with stress or emotions related to COVID-19 (13.3%). The percentage of respondents who reported having seriously considered suicide in the 30 days before completing the survey (10.7%) was significantly higher among respondents aged 18-24 years (25.5%), minority racial/ethnic groups (Hispanic respondents \[18.6%\], non-Hispanic black \[black\] respondents \[15.1%\]), self-reported unpaid caregivers for adults (30.7%), and essential workers¶ (21.7%). Community-level intervention and prevention efforts, including health communication strategies, designed to reach these groups could help address various mental health conditions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. [PubMed abstract](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7440121/) ![Rashon I Lane, Ph.D, MA](https://dyn.mktgcdn.com/p/YkFrApKCt1azAd9bE9J193lbOK4SG3jv_LeSeAb0yhY/fit=crop,gravity=auto,dpr=2,width=188,height=250,quality=100) Rashon I Lane, Ph.D, MA Principal investigator [View profile](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/investigators/rashon-i-lane-phd-ma-1049681186) ## Research topics - [COVID-19](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22COVID-19%5C%22%22) - [Mental Health](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Mental+Health%5C%22%22) ## Related publications [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) - Publication ### [Association between burnout and adherence with mask usage and additional COVID-19 prevention behaviours: findings from a large-scale, demographically representative survey of US adults](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/burnout-adherence-with-mask-usage-covid-19-1055312794) BMJ Open 2023 Mar 01 - Publication ### [Emotion perception and quality of life in bipolar I disorder.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/emotion-perception-qol-in-bipolar-i-disorder-1055312597) Fulford D, Peckham AD, Johnson K, Johnson SL. J Affect Disord. 152-154:491-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2013.08.034. Epub 2013 Sep 7. 2014 Jan 01 - Publication ### [Measuring and promoting SARS-CoV-2 vaccine equity: development of a COVID-19 vaccine equity index](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/measuring-promoting-sars-cov-2-vaccine-equity-1055312863) Alice R Pressman, Stephen H Lockhart, Zijun Shen, Kristen M J Azar Health Equity.;5(1):476-483. doi: 10.1089/heq.2021.0047. eCollection 2021. 2021 Jul 13 - Publication ### [Unreported SARS-CoV-2 Home Testing and Test Positivity](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/unreported-sars-cov-2-home-testing-test-positivity-1055312922) JAMA Network Open 2023 Jan 23 - Publication ### [Symptom assessment in early psychosis: The use of well-established rating scales in clinical high-risk and recent-onset populations.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/symptom-assessment-early-psychosis-rating-scales-1055312798) Fulford D, Pearson R, Stuart BK, Fisher M, Mathalon DH, Vinogradov S, Loewy RL. Psychiatry Res. 220(3):1077-83. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2014.07.047. Epub 2014 Aug 1. 2014 Dec 30 [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/mental-health-substance-use-during-covid-19-pandemic-1055312942#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Research publications","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Mental Health, Substance Use during COVID-19 Pandemic"}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/mental-health-substance-use-during-covid-19-pandemic-1055312942#medicalscholarlyarticle","name":"Mental Health, Substance Use, and Suicidal Ideation During the COVID-19 Pandemic","headline":"Mental Health, Substance Use during COVID-19 Pandemic","abstract":"The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been associated with mental health challenges related to the morbidity and mortality caused by the disease and to mitigation activities, including the impact of physical distancing and stay-at-home orders.* Symptoms of anxiety disorder and depressive disorder increased considerably in the United States during April-June of 2020, compared with the same period in 2019 (1,2). 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