Symptoms of Anxiety or Depressive Disorder

32% of adults nationwide report symptoms of anxiety or depression, up from 11% in 2019. Southern states have the largest share of adults reporting symptoms, at 39% in AR and 38% in OK, LA, and MS.

Symptoms of anxiety or depression, Mar 2-14, 2022

Percent of adults who experienced symptoms of anxiety or depression in the last two weeks

Source: CDC and Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey. Notes: This indicator is based on self-report of the frequency of anxiety and depression symptoms, derived from responses to the first two questions of the eight-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2) and the seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-2) scale.

Uncertainty amplifies anxiety and stress, as do economic worries and social isolation.^1,2,3 When Covid struck, social isolation and uncertainty hit nearly every sector of society and economic woes deepened, particularly for low-wage workers. It is not surprising then that 32% of adults reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder in March 2022, up from 11% in 2019.4 In Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Mississippi, 38% to 39% of adults reported symptoms. Surveys of high school students reveal that more than ⅓ experienced anxiety, stress, or depression during Covid.⁴ The effects of this mental health crisis continue to become clear, with increasing incidence of drug overdose deaths, road rage incidents and other vehicular fatalities, domestic and child abuse, and violent crime^5,6,7,8,9 (Drug Overdose Deaths). With mental health providers in short supply, expansion of telehealth, school-based services, peer supports, and other consumer-informed services will be critical to helping Americans make sense of the massive changes in our world and develop effective approaches for moving forward (Mental Health Providers)¹⁰.

1. “Uncertainty and stress: Why it causes diseases and how it is mastered by the brain”. Peters, McEwen, and Friston. Progress in Neurobiology. September, 2017. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301008217300369

2. “More Proof That Money Can Buy Happiness (or a Life with Less Stress)”. Blanding. Harvard Business School. January, 2022. https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/more-proof-that-money-can-buy-happiness

3. “Loneliness and Social Isolation as Risk Factors for Mortality: A Meta-Analytic Review”. Holt-Lunstad, Smith, Baker, Harris, and Stephenson. Perspectives on Psychological Science. March, 2015. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1745691614568352

4. “More than one-third of US high schoolers report poor mental health during pandemic”. Weldon. Healio News. March, 2022. https://www.healio.com/news/primary-care/20220331/more-than-onethird-of-us-high-schoolers-report-poor-mental-health-during-pandemic 

5. “Many Teens Report Emotional and Physical Abuse by Parents During Lockdown”. Barry. The New York Times. March, 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/31/health/covid-mental-health-teens.html 

6. “Danger in danger: Interpersonal violence during COVID-19 quarantine”. Mazza, Marano, Lai, Janiri, and Sani. PubMed. July, 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7190494/

7. “2020 Fatality Data Show Increased Traffic Fatalities During Pandemic”. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. June, 2021. https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/2020-fatality-data-show-increased-traffic-fatalities-during-pandemic

8. “Reports of Road Rage Shootings are on the Rise”. Burd-Sharps, Bistline. Everytown. April, 2022. https://everytownresearch.org/reports-of-road-rage-shootings-are-on-the-rise/

9. “Preventing gun violence takes more than police”. Henderson, Brown. Brookings Institute. March, 2022. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/how-we-rise/2022/03/31/preventing-gun-violence-takes-more-than-police/ 

10. “Tackling unfinished business and taking on current challenges: Putting Biden’s mental health proposals in context”. Frank, Wachino, and Aguilar. Brookings Institute. April, 2022. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/usc-brookings-schaeffer-on-health-policy/2022/04/04/tackling-unfinished-business-and-taking-on-current-challenges-putting-bidens-mental-health-proposals-in-context/