Noon Edition airs on Fridays at noon on WFIU.   

Mental health issues have increased during the Covid-19 pandemic.

A CDC survey conducted in June 2020 found that 40 percent of U.S. adults had problems with mental health or substance abuse, with 31 percent suffering from anxiety or depression. Furthermore, in the 30 days before the survey was conducted, 11 percent said they seriously considered suicide.

Indiana saw similar increases in mental health issues.  According to the state government website, during 2020, 27.4 percent of Indiana adults reported symptoms of anxiety or depression. Suicide deaths among younger Indiana residents also had increased and deaths from overdoses had skyrocketed.

As the pandemic continued, more and more people were affected by mental health issues. Even young people and children began to feel the effects of isolation from school, work, friends, and family. Two years after the pandemic started, the World Health Organization reported that in the first year of the pandemic, anxiety and depression increased 25 percent globally. In response, 90 percent of countries surveyed have included psychosocial and mental health support in their Covid-19 response plans.

We will talk about these issues and more with our guests this Friday on Noon Edition. 

You can follow us on Twitter at @NoonEdition or join us on the air by calling 812-855-0811 or toll-free at 1-877-285-9348. You can also send questions for the show at news@indianapublicmedia.org. Be Well Indiana offers a helpline for those struggling with mental health. Call 211 then enter your zip code and press 3 to speak with a trained counselor. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is: 800-273-8255.

Guests

Lindsay Potts, licensed clinical social worker and Director of Behavioral Health Services for IU Health

Denise Hayes, assistant vice provost for student affairs and IU director of counseling and psychological services (CAPS)

Barbara Thompson, executive director of National Alliance on Mental Illness Indiana