Study suggests need to screen older adults for mental health symptoms as pandemic continues

As the pandemic enters a new phase, and talk of getting “back to normal” fades in the face of surging cases of COVID-19 and lagging vaccination against it, a new study suggests a need to check on the mental health of people over 50.

Based on a poll of more than 2,000 older adults nationwide, researchers from the University of Michigan recommend that health providers screen older adults for symptoms of depression, anxiety and sleep problems brought on or worsened by the pandemic, and help them connect to resources and care.

Certain groups – those 50 to 64, women, those with higher levels of education and those who say their physical health is fair or poor – are more likely to have experienced worsened mental health during the first nine months of the pandemic, the study shows.

CBSSM's Lauren Gerlach, D.O., M.Sc. was lead author of the new paper.

More details below.