People screening at risk for mental health conditions struggle most with body image, self-image and relationship problems
Alexandria, VA, May 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- More than 6.3 million people worldwide in 2022 took a mental health screening using the Mental Health America (MHA) Online Screening Program, a nearly 138% increase from 2020 and a 19% increase from 2021. Rates of depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts remain at the high 2021 levels, and more people screening at risk for mental health conditions are struggling the most with body image or self-image and relationship problems.
MHA is releasing this data in conjunction with the start of May as Mental Health Month. This year’s theme, “Look Around, Look Within,” and accompanying resources focus on environmental impacts on mental health, including safe and stable housing, an individual’s neighborhood and town, and nature and the outdoors.
Further analysis of domestic screeners reveals shifting concerns and disparities across multiple demographics. Among individuals who screened positive or moderate to severe for a mental health condition in 2022, 60% reported body image or self-image as one of the top three contributors to their mental health concerns. However, the differences in the highest contributors to mental health concerns among the individual races and ethnicities reveal inequities in the experience of 2021-2022. For example, American Indian or Alaska Native screeners were most likely to select abuse or violence (16%) and grief or loss (20%); Black or African American screeners were most likely to select relationship problems (54%), financial problems (26%) and basic needs (5%), Asian screeners were most likely to select school or work problems (56%); and 50% of screeners who identified as more than one race were most likely to select loneliness or isolation.
Another significant finding came from the addition of our ADHD screening in June 2022. Within six months of its addition, the ADHD screen surged in popularity, eclipsing both bipolar and anxiety in screens per month. Data suggests that people are having a hard time staying on task as the world continues to adjust in the aftermath of the pandemic, with 84% of domestic screeners scoring at risk of having ADHD. The top three symptoms screeners reported included not being able to start a difficult task (85%), not being able to stay focused on a boring or difficult task (82%), and fidgeting or squirming after sitting down for a long time (80%).
In addition, 65% of ADHD screeners in the U.S. are over age 18, which is slightly older than the general screening average. Despite this, ADHD screeners under 18 have the highest screening severity, with about 88% of youth scoring at risk.