CVS Health survey shows mental health concerns continue to rise

Concerns higher than during COVID-19 pandemic, with the effects of social media a driving factor

WOONSOCKET, R.I., May 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A recent CVS Health® (NYSE: CVS)/Morning Consult survey found that a majority of adults have significant concerns about their mental health and rates across the country continue to rise.

    --  Two-thirds (65%) of adults have experienced concerns about their own
        mental health or the mental health of their friends and family, which is
        up six percentage points from 2022 and 15 percentage points from 2020.
    --  About eight in 10 adults (77%) are concerned about mental health in the
        country, viewing it as a top concern in line with issues such as the
        economy (81%).
    --  Seventy percent of parents are concerned about their children's mental
        health, which is higher than their concerns about their children's
        physical health (66%).
    --  Respondents are likely to turn to both mental well-being apps (48%) and
        therapists (55%) for care.

"Mental health became a top concern in 2020 and it has only risen since," said Taft Parsons III, M.D., Vice President and Chief Psychiatric Officer, CVS Health. "Uncertainty around the future, current events and social media continue to drive anxiety among adults. Our priority, across CVS Health, remains improving access to quality virtual and in-person mental health care and ensuring we have resources in place to address the unique needs of individuals."

Americans are concerned about social media's implications on their mental health

The survey also found that nearly four in 10 adults (37%) believe social media has hurt society at-large.

    --  As a result, a third of adults have started to turn off notifications
        for social media apps and are attempting to spend less time on social
        media.
    --  About half of parents feel that social media is impacting their
        children's perceptions of the world and their children's development.
    --  On the other hand, more than one in three adults (36%) report that
        social media has taught them about mental health issues.

"Our increasing use of technology has helped increase access to mental health care - CVS Health has had over 43 million mental health virtual visits since 2020 - and created a way for people to talk openly about the topic, reducing stigma," added Parsons III. "But as we navigate the impacts social media has on mental health, it has become increasingly important that we highlight its limitations and set guardrails for ourselves and our children."

CVS Health's commitment to mental health care

As the leading health solutions company with resources that expand nationally and in communities across the country, CVS Health continues to increase accessibility to both in-person and virtual mental health services:

    --  In select states, consumers have access to in-person and virtual mental
        health services at MinuteClinic®. Approximately 78% of patients report
        a reduction in their depression symptoms(1).
    --  MinuteClinic offers depression screenings virtually and in all
        MinuteClinic locations.
    --  CVS Health launched Be Seen Be Heard to increase depression screenings
        among underserved communities.
    --  In April, as part of its Centering Youth Mental Health program, the CVS
        Health Foundation awarded grants to the Greater Flint Health Coalition,
        Kentucky Youth Advocates and Reinvent South Stockton Coalition to
        support their work to provide accessible adolescent and young adult
        mental health services.
    --  Project Health includes depression screenings at all their events.
    --  Resources for Living (RFL) takes a comprehensive, preventive approach to
        members' mental health, improving patient access and driving cost
        savings, including total medical costs, prescription costs, hospital
        services and in-network care utilization.
    --  As part of its focus on reducing suicide attempts among Aetna members,
        CVS Health has seen a 16% reduction in suicide attempts among Aetna
        adult Commercial members when compared with a 2019 baseline.
    --  CVS Healthspire(TM):
        --  Signify Health® screens individuals for depression in every In-Home
            Health Evaluation visit.
        --  At Oak Street Health®, patients are able to schedule both
            behavioral and physical health appointments.
    --  CVS Health offers a number of mental health resources and guides on
        CVSHealth.com, including a resource center focused on the unique mental
        health needs of different populations - from the LGBTQ+ community to
        young adults to parents and caregivers.
    --  As part of the Beauty Mark initiative, CVS Health promotes healthier
        self-image and positive mental well-being by not materially altering the
        beauty imagery created for stores, marketing materials, websites, apps
        or social media.

For more information on how CVS Health is making mental well-being services more accessible, less complicated and more convenient, visit CVSHealth.com.

Methodology

This poll was conducted by Morning Consult between March 19-21, 2024, among a national sample of 2,202 adults. The margin of error for the full sample is plus or minus two percentage points. The interviews were conducted online and the data were weighted to approximate a target sample of adults based on age, gender, educational attainment, race, and region.

    1. Measured via PHQ-9 scores for patients who have completed more than one
       visit and reported having at least mild depression symptoms in their
       initial visit. Percentages do not add up to 100% due to rounding.

About CVS Health
CVS Health® is the leading health solutions company, delivering care like no one else can. We reach more people and improve the health of communities across America through our local presence, digital channels and over 300,000 dedicated colleagues - including more than 40,000 physicians, pharmacists, nurses and nurse practitioners. Wherever and whenever people need us, we help them with their health - whether that's managing chronic diseases, staying compliant with their medications or accessing affordable health and wellness services in the most convenient ways. We help people navigate the health care system - and their personal health care - by improving access, lowering costs and being a trusted partner for every meaningful moment of health. And we do it all with heart, each and every day. Follow @CVSHealth on social media.

Media Contacts
Ethan Slavin
slavine@cvshealth.com

Doug Feingold
feingoldd@cvshealth.com

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SOURCE CVS Health