The mental health of Kentuckians has taken a hit during the pandemic. Mental health care workers are seeing a more than 40 percent increase in demand for anxiety and depression treatment. Theresa Botts, associate professor of psychology at Eastern Kentucky University, said young people are taking it especially hard.
“A growing percentage of our youth in the US are struggling with major depression, with about 15.08% of our youth having experienced a major depressive episode in the past year. That is actually an increase of 1.24%”
Being confined and isolated is taking a toll on mental health. Botts said they have seen an increase in several different conditions.
“41.5 percent in the demand for treatment for, in particular, anxiety and depression. We’re seeing increasing struggles with grief, sleep/wake disorders, obsessive compulsive and similar disorders, substance related and addictive disorders.”
You can hear about how the pandemic is affecting Kentuckians as Theresa Botts talks with Tom Martin on Today’s Interview on WEKU.
