Emily Martinez

The CDC has suggested many mental health strategies to the general public, here’s why.

The COVID outbreak has been shown to induce stress, but Americans’ stress levels, in particular,  have reached new highs. 

The Center for Disease Control’s (CDC’s) update of their website on, July 1, 2020, regarding mental health, shows many Americans coping with stress and anxiety. The KFF claims that “53% of adults in the United States reported that their mental health has been negatively impacted.” It seems as if many Americans, children and adults, have been affected by the pandemic. 

Another cause of negative mental health responses is the rapid unemployment caused by employers’ responses to the rise of COVID cases. According to Pew Research, ¨the ranks of unemployed Americans [rose] by more than 14 million, from 6.2 million in February to 20.5 million in may 2020.” Many of those who are unemployed may not have the resources to stay in their homes, much less pay for luxuries such as therapy. Unemployment has caused stress in people because of the lack of income to buy groceries, to pay rent, and to purchase sanitary health products that are necessary during this pandemic. In fact, the CDC has tried to minimize the amount of stress people are experiencing by recommending taking care of your body, having multiple care providers that could help during this time, trying some activities that individuals find enjoyable, and many more like recommendations. 

As this pandemic becomes the new normal, we have to find new solutions and help others as much as we can.  We have to take care of ourselves if we want to be able to give our best support to others in need.