November 19, 2020 – A new report, published in the Lancet, found that one in five Covid-19 patients develop mental illness within 90 days of recovery. Individuals who have had Covid-19 are likely to develop anxiety, depression, insomnia, or post-traumatic stress disorder. These findings indicate potential long-term adverse mental health outcomes that may persist after the pandemic subsides.
Covid-19 also affects the mental health of individuals who have not had the disease. Lockdowns, physical distancing, economic uncertainty, and fear of illness can have adverse mental health effects in previously healthy people. The report noted increased symptoms of depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and increases in risky behaviors.
Carrie Henning-Smith, Deputy Director of the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center, expressed concern about the mental health impact of Covid-19 in rural areas. “Mental health issues that might emerge from Covid-19 are particularly concerning because rural areas already have such a deficit of mental health care and mental health care providers compared to urban areas. Any additional burden of mental health on top of the mental health issues that already existed is just going to make those barriers to care worse.”
