In response to the current coronavirus crisis, most state and local governments are requiring closures of non-essential businesses and schools, prohibiting large gatherings, and requiring quarantines for travelers, in addition to encouraging social distancing. A majority of states have declared mandatory stay-at-home orders for all but non-essential workers. A broad body of research links social isolation and loneliness to both poor mental and physical health.
According to a new report from the Kaiser Family Foundation:
- Nearly half (45%) of adults in the United States reported that their mental health has been negatively impacted due to worry and stress over the virus
- Older adults are more likely than people of other ages to develop serious illness if they contract coronavirus. Due to their increased vulnerability to the virus, it is especially important for this population to practice social distancing, among other safety measures
- Among parents with children under the age of 18, nearly three out of five (57%) women say that worry or stress related to the coronavirus has negatively impacted their mental health
Read the full report here: https://www.kff.org/health-reform/issue-brief/the-implications-of-covid-19-for-mental-health-and-substance-use/
