Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Editorial
. 2020 Apr 9;110(7):e1-e2.
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2020.305699. Online ahead of print.

COVID-19 Exposes the Cracks in Our Already Fragile Mental Health System

John Auerbach  1 , Benjamin F Miller  1
Affiliations
Editorial

COVID-19 Exposes the Cracks in Our Already Fragile Mental Health System

John Auerbach et al. Am J Public Health. .

Abstract

The coronavirus pandemic has caused enormous concern among many people. Every morning, we are met with an increasing deluge of dire news about the most recent number of people to contract COVID-19 and to die from it, decreases in the stock market, and countries implementing broad travel restrictions and stay-at-home orders.1,2 The current state of affairs is having a negative effect on the mental well-being of our country's residents. It also highlights the policy gaps in our current system that inhibit the vital conditions for well-being and resiliency.3 Although the primary focus has rightfully been on stopping the spread of COVID-19, we should also quickly prepare to address the mental toll the pandemic is taking on individuals and communities across the country. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print May 21, 2020: e1-e2. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2020.305699).

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. New York Times. Coronavirus turmoil in 5 charts, 10 quotes, 5 photos and 1 map. 2020. Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/10/business/dealbook/coronavirus-markets.... Accessed March 25, 2020.
    1. USA Today. Coronavirus: all of Italy placed on lockdown; state department to limits services there. 2020. Available at: https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/2020/03/09/italy-impo.... Accessed March 25, 2020.
    1. Well Being Trust. Healing the nation: a policy guide. Available at: https://healingthenation.wellbeingtrust.org. Accessed March 25, 2020.
    1. Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Mental health care health professional shortage areas (HPSAs) 2019. Available at: https://www.kff.org/other/state-indicator/mental-health-care-health-prof.... Accessed March 25, 2020.
    1. National Council for Behavioral Health. New study reveals lack of access as root cause for mental health crisis in America. Available at: https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/press-releases/new-study-reveals-lack.... Accessed March 25, 2020.

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources