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Anxiety, Stress and Depression at All-Time High Among Americans :
A new study has revealed that more and more Americans are suffering from psychological issues, with anxiety, depression and stress reported at record-high. And, those affected are oftentimes impoverished enough to afford treatments.
The study, which was based on federal government statistics gathered between 2006 and 2014, has found out that as much as 8.3 million individuals are reportedly dealing with SPD or Serious Psychological Distress. Serious Psychological Distress is a critical form of psychological problem that requires appropriate medical treatment.
According to the research, the number of Americans having mental illnesses has increased at 3.4 percent - compared to the 3 percent recorded from a survey made nearly ten years ago. In addition the study suggests that, compared to those who do not have psychological conditions, individuals with serious psychological distress are found to be dealing with poverty that they can't even afford general healthcare services and are likely to be incapable of paying for their psychological medication.
For the past 60 years, the CDC or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducts nationwide health surveys yearly. These annual surveys are responded by around 200,000 adult participants with the age bracket of 18 to 64. This research has analyzed the SPD-related data. During the survey, the participants were required to answer how frequently they experience certain emotions that include anxiety, depression and hopelessness.
The team has worked based on the data that were gathered from the survey made from 2006 to 2014. Judith Weissman from New York University's Lagone Medical Center and the lead researcher stated that, the surge in the number of individuals with reported types of SPD or serious psychological distress may be attributed to the fallout from the financial crisis that was felt first in late 2007.
Furthermore, Weissman added that people who suffered from psychological illness may just have a hard time to recover. She said maybe these people were holding things in, they were previously earning for their living with some resources but then they all got lost because of the great economic crisis and they could no longer bounce back altogether.
Now Weissman is calling for better access to psychological healthcare in order to help the individuals who are mentally and emotionally affected. She believes that part of the problem may also be rooted to the shortage of healthcare providers who are capable of treating these psychological health problems.
She also said that if policies are changed, mental healthcare access is increased and the insurance coverage for psychological healthcare is also increased can do a lot to save the future generation.
Unfortunately, compared to people without emotional distress, the healthcare access for individuals suffering from psychological distress has declined during the studied period. It was found out that, three out of 10 Americans who have serious psychological distress don't have access to healthcare insurance as opposed to two out of 10 for those without mental issues.
Additionally, it was also identified that, in 2014 more than nine percent of Americans dealing with psychological problems are unable to afford psychiatric medications – an increase from just 8.7 percent rate reported in the year 2006.
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