Published 11\/03\/23, Mansur Shaheen, The Messenger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n COVID Pandemic Caused Collective Trauma in Americans, Survey Says<\/p>\n\n\n\n Americans, and specifically younger people, are much more stressed now than they were in years past. Experts say this is because of collective trauma experienced during the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A survey <\/a>published Thursday by the Harris Poll and American Psychological Association (APA) found steep rises in stress levels in Americans between ages 18 and 44.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe COVID-19 pandemic created a collective experience among Americans. While the early-pandemic lockdowns may seem like the distant past, the aftermath remains,\u201d Arthur Evans Jr., Ph.D., the APA\u2019s chief executive officer, said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For the survey, 3,185 U.S. adults were asked whether they feel stressed, what was causing them stress, and if they have experienced a stress-related condition such as mental health problems or high blood pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They found that 34% of Americans between ages 18 to 34, and 31% between 35 and 44, report that their current stress levels are eight or higher on a ten point scale \u2014 with a score of ten representing the most stress. These represent a 31% and 47% rise respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This stress has helped deteriorate the health of many Americans. Around two-thirds of participants said they have a chronic illness of some sort now, including 24% who said they have anxiety and 23% who reported symptoms of depression. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite their struggles, many still do not think their issues are a big deal. Among participants who reported being stressed, 67% say they don\u2019t consider their issues serious enough to feel stressed about. This can lead to many who could benefit from care not seeking it out, the APA says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe cannot ignore the fact that we have been significantly changed by the loss of more than one million Americans, as well as the shift in our workplaces, school systems, and culture at large. To move toward posttraumatic growth, we must first identify and understand the psychological wounds that remain,\u201d Dr. Evans said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The decline of America’s mental health has been a massive issue coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic. A record number <\/a>of deaths by suicide were recorded in 2022, according to official data. A KFF <\/a>survey found that more than 30% of Americans report feeling symptoms of anxiety or depression, a figure that sharply rose during the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n