Higher rates of depression and anxiety rates in adults were reported to correspond with higher COVID-19 infection rates, according to a new study released by the CDC.
Nationwide, average anxiety severity scores increased 13% from August to December 2020 and then decreased 26.8% from December 2020 to June 2021. The decrease coincides with the availability of COVID-19 vaccines and dropping numbers of COVID-19 infections during that period.
The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine became available under Emergency Use Authorization on Dec. 11, 2020.
The authors of the CDC study point out that the increase and then drop in depression and anxiety levels during the pandemic show the need for more mental health care during the pandemic, including telehealth.
Read the full study here.