Centers for Disease Control released data on October 18, 2021, confirming a relationship between average US depression rates, and COVID-19. Now that’s half unsurprising, given the relief we feel when we can go out and about again. The root causes, the researchers say are social isolation, coronavirus-related deaths, and stress. And moreover these anxiety-related symptoms increased 18% from December 2020 to April 2021.
What is Depression? What’s the Big Deal?
We could regard depression as being caught in avalanche of adverse conditions we can’t fix. The snow overwhelms us, we hollow out a tiny cave but we just survive. Other people pass by overhead. When we call, they say you need to get out of that hole, but we can’t. The hardest thing about depression is we believe nobody else understands.
The Centers for Disease Control team noted how average US depression rates, and COVID-19 varied following the same trends. That’s also half unsurprising, given how overwhelming a rampant pandemic can seem. We shelter in our ‘hollowed out cave’ at home. The people go past in the street filled with their own problems. This is very different from PBA and other short-term mood swings.
Life, Death, Average US Depression Rates and COVID-19
Dr. Panagiota Korenis is associate professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. She told ABC News ‘We were really thinking about life or death. The pandemic has certainly identified the need to not just take physical health in isolation. But really needing to emphasize also people’s mental well-being too.’
However, it seems we could be in for the long haul with lingering community depression. ‘As this is drawing out, we’re seeing the aftermath of a lot of burnout’ Korenis explains. ‘I do very much believe that we are in it for the long haul.
‘But if people take the time to self-reflect, and they’re open to getting help, getting treatment, and taking time to do things that bring them joy, I think that’s really critical.’ The researchers conclude their report with the observation we may need to increase capacity of mental health services.
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Preview Image: PBA and Depression Differ
