2020 Proves to Be a Study in Mental Health Awareness for America

Editor’s Note: As 2020 comes to a close, we’re taking a look back and exploring how the coronavirus pandemic impacted health care, attitudes, and prescription discounts. This is the third report in a series of articles on year-in-review trends and reflections from RxSaver. If you are a reporter and want more insights, drop us a note.

As we reflect back on a year that tested our patience with uncertainty and loss, it’s evident that a mental health pandemic is possibly on the rise alongside the coronavirus crisis.

In February, RxSaver took a pulse on the current state of America’s mental health. At this point Americans were coping with strict shelter in place orders and a climbing COVID-19 death toll. We reported that nearly 50% of Americans surveyed reported in April that they were currently managing a mental health condition, and 54% of Americans reported that their mental health had been negatively impacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic¹.

As we wrap up 2020, it appears that Americans are carrying heavier mental health burdens than pre-pandemic. RxSaver’s most recent survey, conducted by Kelton Research, affirmed that not much has changed since February. More than a quarter of Americans admitted their mental health had become worse since pre-COVID-19 times².

A Rise In Prescriptions for Antidepressants

More than one in four Americans are currently taking a prescription medication to help manage their mental health condition, with men more likely to take a prescription for their mental health than women (31% vs 23%)². And young people are one of the most affected age groups with 62.9% of 18-24 year-olds reporting an anxiety or depressive disorder.

Our internal data suggests an increase in prescription medications like antidepressants in 2020, indicating that as Americans reach out for mental health support, medications may be prescribed to help with their condition. Among RxSaver’s most commonly filled SSRIs in 2020 were: citalopram (generic for Celexa), escitalopram (generic for Lexapro), and fluoxetine (generic for Prozac)³.

A Different Type of Holiday Celebration

Americans are continuing to make changes as the holidays approach, having already shouldered rampant changes throughout the year. As mentioned in our first report, 76% of Americans reported some change happening in their life due to COVID-19. And with holidays upon us, making adjustments to custom traditions will be another instance where change is necessary.

In response to updated measures issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, asking the public to avoid unnecessary travel, families are altering their plans for the holidays. Because of the rise in COVID-19 cases, 40% of Americans are opting to skip out on any holiday celebrations this year for fear of becoming infected with the virus². For those who will continue with holiday celebrations, 58% said they would be more selective on who they choose to visit or interact with during the holidays².

During even a non-COVID-19 year, many Americans admitted they took some type of anxiety medication to help get through the holidays. One in 10 Americans said they take anxiety medication to help cope during this time of year³.

Breaking The Mental Health Stigma

As mental health conditions continue to climb, there’s hope in the fact people are reaching out for help from their health care providers and looking for ways to safely manage their symptoms.

A silver lining of mental health care during the pandemic is that many therapists and patients have been able to continue their sessions via telemedicine. In addition, a number of people who previously didn’t have access to mental health treatment have found a window through telehealth platforms, a trend that, if continues post-pandemic, would lift a significant barrier to mental health treatment. With many mental health conditions, especially anxiety and depression, therapy and medication together are more effective than either modality alone, so access to both is critical.

In some ways, 2020 has provided us with insight into the importance of talking about our mental health and the collective reassurance that we aren’t alone in what we are feeling and facing during this time. It’s important to reach out for help should you feel in crisis and remember there are free mental health hotlines available 24/7.

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741.

References:

1. Kelton. The RxSaver COVID-19 RxSaver 2020 Survey was conducted between April 1, 2020 and April 3, 2020 among 1,004 nationally representative Americans.

2. Kelton. The RxSaver Q4 2020 Survey was conducted between November 2, 2020 and November 8, 2020 among 1,042 nationally representative Americans.

3. RxSaver (2020). [Transaction trends across America]. Unpublished raw data.