CLEVELAND — If you are feeling stressed right now in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, you are not alone.
Cleveland Clinic President and CEO, Thomislav Mihaljevic MD, released a letter Wednesday afternoon addressing several alarming new studies regarding stress in the United States.
"There are the obvious concerns that people have about getting sick with COVID-19, but the pandemic has increased other stressors as well," Dr. Mihaljevic said on the Clinic's website.
One report from the American Psychological Association (APA) indicates that while only 69% of Americans reported feeling stress in 2018, nearly 85% now say they are feeling generalized anxiety.
A May 2020 study from the APA found that nearly seven out of ten people surveyed said that they felt concerned regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the United States.
An even more worrisome statistic, however, is just how many people are seeking help for mental health issues during the pandemic.
A recent study published in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine reported that the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to less mental health emergency-related visits. This worries doctors like Mihajevic because as stress is reportedly getting higher, the expectation is that more visits should be seen across the country.
"Reach out to your healthcare provider for an appointment. Hospitals are taking many safety precautions and are among the safest places you can visit during the pandemic," Mihaljevic writes. "Many healthcare providers are also offering virtual visits so that you can get professional help without leaving your house."
In the meantime, Dr. Mihaljevic is reminding Americans to take care of their own mental health in the best way that they can, and in a time of uncertainty, take care of those around you.
"After all, we — employers, employees, coworkers, friends, loved ones and neighbors — are all in this together."