Counseling experts encourage activities to maintain connections and improve mental health
FRIDAY, April 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Mental health concerns top economic worries during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the results of a survey released by the University of Phoenix.
The Harris Poll conducted an online survey of 1,055 U.S. adults on behalf of the University of Phoenix from March 30 to 31, 2020, to assess perceptions of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The vast majority of Americans (84 percent) say that if social distancing continues longer than they expect, it will have an impact on their mental health. Two-thirds of respondents (68 percent) say they feel like everything is out of their control right now, and more than half (56 percent) say they are balancing more now during the pandemic than ever before. Concern about experiencing increased anxiety (41 percent) is a top concern, followed by not being able to pay bills (33 percent), reduced job salary/work hours (26 percent), and losing their job/not being able to get a new job (22 percent). Despite these concerns, respondents express gratitude, with 65 percent saying they are thankful for their health, family, and friends. More than one-third of adults (38 percent) are optimistic that the country will come out of this pandemic stronger than ever and 30 percent are making plans for a postpandemic future.
“Feelings of anxiety are not solely due to isolation or social distancing. The everyday choices we make, including technology overuse, impersonal interactions, and engaging with people that are unhealthy for us, all lead to anxiety,” Dean Aslinia, Ph.D., counseling department chair at the University of Phoenix, said in a statement. “If something good can come from this pandemic, we can hopefully recognize the need for intentional behaviors that maintain and improve our mental health.”
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