Social media and mental health: CVS-Morning Consult survey reveals pros, cons
A larger share of Americans are worried about their mental health now than at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new survey. CVS Health. In March, the nation’s largest pharmacy chain partnered with Morning consultation to poll 2,202 American adults.
IN survey results released on Thursday, about 65% of respondents said they had experienced concerns about themselves mental health or that of friends and family, vs 59% by April 2022 and 50% in April 2020.
“I think the takeaway is that we continue to see behavioral health increasingly in the public eye,” Dr. Taft Parsons IIIvice president of CVS Health and director of psychiatry, said Luck. “[COVID-19] has brought about not elimination but rather a reduction in the stigma that people once had when talking about their emotional difficulties and behavioral health needs.
Parsons says socialization is a means of coping with stress, and as people face sudden, prolonged isolation, some have adopted virtual mental health treatments: “ Before pandemicI think many people will just suffer in silence and not get the help they need.”
Nearly half of respondents, 48%, said they were likely to use mental health apps for treatment, while 55% said the same about therapy.
The majority of respondents, 77%, said they are concerned about mental health nationally. By comparison, 81% said the economy was also a significant concern.
“We’re talking about issues that are really top of mind,” Parsons said. “This is dinner conversation; People are very interested in it.”
Respondents cited these issues as a cause for concern:
- Uncertainty about the future: 51%
- Current events: 49%
- Body image/appearance: 35%
The poll results are consistent with a growing body of documented evidence increased rates of depression and anxietyespecially in young people, say Dr. Itai Danovitchpresident of Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, who did not participate in the survey.
“People concerned about their mental health should realize that we can strengthen our resilience by prioritizing self-care measures such as protect sleepSpend time exercising, reduce Excessive digital media consumptionand prioritize quality time with friends and family,” Danovitch said Luck by email. “For individuals experiencing severe or persistent mood symptoms, it is important to consult a healthcare professional as there are many different effective treatment options that can tailored to individual values and preferences.”
Although the survey methodology dictates that “data are weighted to approximate a target sample of adults based on age, gender, education level, race, and region,” the results published were not stratified by these demographics. CVS Health is provided Luck with additional data showing that 81% of respondents aged 18–34 said they were worried about their mental health or that of their loved ones, compared to 74% in 2022 and 62% in 2020. However, it is unclear how this compares to other age groups.
Jamie Grill—Getty Images
Social media has pros and cons for mental health
Survey results show that social media is tied to mental health in a myriad of positive and negative ways. About 36% of respondents said social media had taught them about mental health issues. Meanwhile, 37% said they believe social media has harmed society in general. A third said they are trying to spend less time on social media and turn off app notifications.
“A lot of public figures have started talking about the need and getting treatment through social media and telling their personal stories,” Parsons said. “From that perspective, it’s a very good thing… it’s good that people can spread it and spread it quickly.”
“We’ve also seen some negative impacts of that, from the standpoint of people attributing stress and anxiety to things that happen through Instagram and social media,” Parsons added. other—as well as how it affects our collective ability to get along and cooperate with groups of people who are different from ourselves.”
About half of the parents surveyed said they felt social media was impacting their children’s development and perception of the world. In addition, more and more parents concerned about their children’s mental health70%, compared to physical health, 66%.
“There is growing evidence that, especially during childhood, the adverse effects of social media are significant and widespread,” Danovitch said. “We have a significant path forward to effectively address these challenges.”
If you need immediate mental health support, get in touch 988 Suicide and Crisis Helpline.
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