The New York Times distributed a survey targeting mental health professionals to determine the impact of the pandemic on mental health. Results showed that there is a marked increase in the demand for services; mental health professionals are fully booked and cannot accommodate the needs of old and new patients. People, old and young, are suffering from generalized anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, stress, substance misuse, marriage and family relationship issues. This has led to long waiting lists as reported by 75% of respondents of the survey and increased need for medications among patients. Healthcare professionals are also suffering from the trauma of managing the COVID-19 pandemic in hospitals and the mental health issues have significantly intensified in young children. This increase in demand is leading to higher burnout rates within the mental health profession suggesting that resiliency and redundancy of mental healthcare resources are waning.
Read the news report here.