FACTS AND FIGURES
Learn about statistics, trends, and other relevant insights for behavioral health practitioners working to reduce health disparities and improve outcomes for people in underserved communities.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Prevalence of Stress and Worry, Mental Health Conditions, and Increased Substance Use Among Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Racial and ethnic minority groups have experienced disparities in mental health and substance misuse related to access to care,
psychosocial stress, and social determinants of health. Combined prevalence estimates of current depression, initiating or increasing
substance use, and suicidal thoughts/ideation among U.S. adults aged ≥18 years were 28.6%, 18.2%, and 8.4%, respectively. Higher rates of
symptoms of current depression (40.3%), increased or newly initiated substance use (36.9%), and estimates of self-reported suicidal
thoughts/ideation (22.9%) were reported among Hispanic respondents than by their non-Hispanic White and Black counterparts. These estimates
highlight the importance of population-level and tailored interventions that address barriers and/or disruptions to access to and delivery of
mental and substance use services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Considerations for health care systems, practices, and providers using
telehealth coverage as well as the use of virtual mental health treatment and substance use recovery groups must be included.
To learn more visit:
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
Citation: McKnight-Eily LR, Okoro CA, Strine TW, et al. Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Prevalence of Stress and Worry, Mental Health
Conditions, and Increased Substance Use Among Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, April and May 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal
Wkly Rep 2021;70:162–166.
DOI:
http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7005a3.