During the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health problems were on the rise.The University of Michigan recently conducted a survey to quantify some of these effects.Women aged 50-64 in the US reported worsening mental conditions during the pandemic.Insider Healthcare: The latest news and analysis in healthcare. Loading Click Sign up to receive marketing emails and other offers from Insider.Experts have been warning for months about a different threat posed by the coronavirus. A mental health crisis could sweep the country.They are concerned because of more than a year's social isolation, the loss and grief, as well as the economic and emotional trauma the pandemic has caused. Researchers at the University of Michigan have conducted a new survey to determine which groups are most susceptible to the pandemic's effects.Researchers found that four groups of women (people aged 50-64, people with higher education and people in fair or poor physical condition) "are more likely" to have suffered from worsened mental conditions during the first nine months of a pandemic. They also reported feeling anxious or having sleep problems.The findings showed that nearly one-fifth (or even half) of older adults felt their mental health had deteriorated since the health crisis.It was found that women were more likely than men to have discussed the subject with a doctor or considered medication as a possible treatment. In the National Poll on Health Aging, more than 2,000 people were surveyed across the US in January.The University of Michigan researchers have suggested that older adults should be screened more often by health professionals to detect signs of mental decline.Stepping up the treatment optionsLauren Gerlach, who is a doctor at the university and was the primary author, stated in a statement that "We must continue to look for, address, and connect the mental health effects from the pandemic."She said that poor mental health can affect independence and functioning as well as quality of life, but that treatment is possible to help.Certain groups had some positive results from the poll. The university found that people aged 65-80 were less likely than those between 80 and 85 to report declining mental health. Overall, two-thirds (or more) of the respondents considered their mental health "excellent or very excellent."Nearly one third of respondents said that they had taken steps to improve their mental health since the pandemic started, such as increasing exercise, diet and meditation.There are other warning signs that are emergingOther research has also warned of the dangers of a growing mental health crisis caused by COVID-19.The Kaiser Family Foundation reported in February that roughly 40% of Americans have admitted to experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression. This is four times more than the proportion who felt similar in 2019 prior to the pandemic.The World Health Organization raised concerns about the possibility of "a huge increase in mental health conditions over the next months" as early as May 2020.The WHO warned that women are at greatest risk of losing their mental health and recommended that they invest more in mental health services.Insider reported that experts in substance abuse and mental health were concerned that the tumultuous year could have also increased alcohol consumption among youth underage.
