The Covid-19 Pandemic Substantially Affected Individuals with Mental Illness

ALBANY, N.Y. (April 6, 2022) - A recent study shows that those with mental illness faced increased stress and anxiety during the pandemic, but many felt that they were receiving adequate support—both formally and informally.

The research team, which included Assistant Professor Emily Leckman-Westin, examined survey responses collected between May 2020 and June 2020 from over 4,000 people who had participated in mental health services from programs operated, funded, or licensed by the New York State Office of Mental Health.

Results showed that 70 percent of the survey takers reported an increase in stress or anxiety. 55 percent reported challenges related to adverse social determinants of health, such as food insecurity, difficulty accessing transportation, and employment barriers.

Despite the negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, 90 percent of participants reported that they received adequate support throughout the pandemic, mostly from family members and providers. This finding emphasizes the importance of informal support provided by loved ones, suggesting that equipping family members with educational materials to help their family members who struggle with mental illness may be beneficial.

The researchers note that throughout the pandemic, many factors have changed that make it necessary to continue to track how Covid-19 has affected those with mental illness. For example, access to resources and support systems may have changed since the start of the pandemic.

The full report can be found in Psychiatric Services.