More than a quarter of US 18-24-year-olds have seriously considered suicide as the coronavirus pandemic continues to have a significant adverse impact on mental health. The finding was in the CDC’s Weekly Report.

The coronavirus pandemic has been associated with an increase in mental health difficulties for a range of reasons, including both the morbidity of the disease itself, and issues such as social distancing and stay-at-home orders. Nearly 41% of all respondents reported at least one adverse mental or behavioral health condition overall, with 31% saying they had experienced symptoms of anxiety or depression in the 30 days before taking the survey.

However, the pandemic appears to have had a particularly detrimental effect on people in the 18-24-year-old age group. 75% of young people reported having at least one adverse mental or behavioral health symptom, making them by far the most impacted demographic. 63% of 18-24-year-olds reported symptoms of anxiety or depression. 25% reported using substances to cope with pandemic related stress or emotions. And 25.5% of young people said they had seriously considered suicide within the 30 days before taking the survey.

Source:

Donna Rachel Edmunds, “25% of young Americans are considering suicide amid coronavirus,” The Jerusalem Post (8-16-20); Czeisler MÉ, Lane RI, Petrosky E, et al. Mental Health, Substance Use, and Suicidal Ideation During the COVID-19 Pandemic, MMWR Morbidity Mortality Weekly — US, (6-24–30-20)