Last updated on June 15th, 2023
The month of October is full of mental health awareness events. The entire month is “Depression and Mental Health Awareness Month,” the first week of October is “Mental Illness Awareness Week,” and October 10 is “World Mental Health Day.”
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the deaths, economic uncertainty, and social isolation it has caused have affected people’s mental health around the world. A US Census Bureau survey in December 2020 found that more than 42% of people reported symptoms of anxiety or depression, which is an increase from 11% the previous year.
Another poll found that adults are reporting specific negative impacts on their mental health and well-being due to stress over the coronavirus, such as:
- Difficulty sleeping
- Difficulty eating
- Increases in alcohol consumption or substance use
- Worsening chronic conditions
Older adults are especially at risk for mental health issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. One survey found that in July 2020, 46% of adults 65 and older said that worry and stress related to COVID-19 have had a negative impact on their mental health. Plus, one in four adults ages 65 and older reported anxiety or depression in August 2020. This number is much higher than the 11% of adults with Medicare who reported depression or anxiety in 2018.
These stats mean that it’s likely that some residents in your healthcare community may be battling mental health issues. By understanding the state of mental health in America today, you and your team can be better equipped to help these residents.
The State of Mental Health in 2021
The prevalence of mental health conditions was increasing across the country well before the COVID-19 pandemic. A report from Mental Health America states that in 2017-2018, 19% of adults experienced a mental illness, which is an increase of 1.5 million people over the previous year. However, COVID-19 has been a major accelerant.
The same report found that the number of people looking for help with anxiety and depression has dramatically increased. They found a 93% increase in people who took the anxiety screenings in 2020 compared to 2019 and a 62% increase in those who took depression screenings.
The people who are screened as most at risk for mental health conditions are struggling most with loneliness or isolation. The report found that from April to September 2020, 70% of people who screened with moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety or depression reported that one of the top three things contributing to their mental health concerns was loneliness or isolation. If your senior living community is looking for ways to help residents stay social during COVID-19, check out some of our ideas here.
The State of Mental Health Treatments
With the prevalence of mental health increasing, the need for behavioral health treatment is also increasing. However, with healthcare communities already experiencing a strain on resources, meeting this need can be challenging.
Behavioral health executives were recently asked where they see the industry going in 2021 and beyond, and one responded that this increased need for mental health services would mean healthcare professionals will need to find innovative, new ways to solve this challenge. Other professionals said that they believe there will be an increase in telehealth and remote services, outpatient treatments, and clinical apps.
The link between mental health disorders and suicides has been clearly established, so finding ways to treat people better and earlier will be crucial for any health professional. The report from Mental Health America found that today, more people are reporting frequent thoughts of suicide and self-harm than have ever been recorded in the MHA screening. About 37% of people reported having thoughts of suicide more than half or nearly every day in September 2020.
Challenges to Providing the Right Treatments for Mental Health
A recent report from Deloitte found that there are four barriers when it comes to improving behavioral health:
- Gaps in clinical and scientific knowledge
- Stigma and drivers of health
- Ineffectual and sub-scale care systems
- Siloed healthcare data management
However, the report also found that six factors will lead to meaningful change in the future. These factors include:
- Cultural and behavioral change to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health
- Scientific advances will lead to more understanding of behavioral health and effective treatments.
- Increased access to care due to telemedicine and AI solutions
- A better data-sharing environment will lead to more proactive identification of mental health issues
- Interoperable data to support the sharing of diverse data types to better tailor mental health treatments for patients
- Empowered consumers that have more choices when it comes to treatments
Many studies have also linked diet to better mental health outcomes and emotional well-being. To create the best outcomes for those residents in your community, it’s essential to understand the challenges the behavioral health industry is facing and the nutritional science that can best support them in their goals.
A food service provider that understands the connection between diet, symptoms, and recovery can make a great partner in the success of your patients.
Culinary Services Group is proud to support inpatient mental health treatment centers and addiction recovery centers throughout the US by providing nutritious, well-balanced meals to those seeking treatment. Our staff receives training on foods that may interact with certain medications your patients are taking for mental health conditions and will consider that information when creating menus. To learn more, contact us here.
