America in Brief: The Anxiety Crisis Affecting 1 in 7 Adults

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, mental health in the United States has significantly declined, with rising cases of anxiety and depression affecting around 40 million and 17 million adults respectively. With rising cases of generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder, experts attribute an increasing number of patients to economic uncertainty, social isolation, and overwhelming exposure to news and social media. Anxiety disorders and depression often go hand in hand, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While an estimated one out of every six Americans will likely experience depression at some point, major depressive episodes are more severe. Mental health outpatient therapist Elizabeth Douglas has seen a surge in anxiety disorders and depression....