U.S. adults adjust social media habits in response to rise in mental health concerns
Nearly 4 in 10 adults believe social media has hurt society at large.
“Mental health became a top concern in 2020, and it has only risen since,” said Dr. Taft Parsons III, vice president and chief psychiatric officer for CVS Health. “Uncertainty around the future, current events and social media continue to drive anxiety among adults. Our priority across CVS Health remains improving access to quality virtual and in-person mental health care and ensuring we have resources in place to address the unique needs of individuals.”
In a recent survey, the company found that a majority of U.S. adults have significant concerns about their mental health as rates across the country continue to rise:
- Two-thirds of adults have experienced concerns about their own mental health or that of their friends and family, which is up six percentage points from 2022and 15 percentage points from 2020.
- About 8 in 10 adults are concerned about overall mental health in the nation, viewing it as a top concern in line with issues such as the economy.
- Seventy percent of parents are concerned about their children’s mental health, which is higher than their concerns about their children’s physical health (66%).
- Respondents are likely to turn to both mental wellbeing apps (48%) and therapists (55%) for care.
Nearly 4 in 10 adults believe social media has hurt society at large. As a result, one-third of them have started to turn off notifications for social media apps and are attempting to spend less time on social media. About half of parents believe social media is affecting their children’s perceptions of the world and their development. On the other hand, more than 1 in 3 adults report that social media has taught them about mental health issues.
“Our increasing use of technology has helped increase access to mental health care and created a way for people to talk openly about the topic, reducing stigma,” Parsons said. “But as we navigate the impacts social media has on mental health, it has become increasingly important that we highlight its limitations and set guardrails for ourselves and our children.”
Read more: Helping employers factor mental health into benefits programs
Many employees look to their employers and coworkers for support. Employee assistance programs (53%) and peer groups (52%) have the highest levels of trust for information about mental health issues. Seventy percent of fathers are likely to turn to EAPs for support, compared with 47% of mothers.
“This data is valuable, because it indicates a change in how people view employers as a trusted support system in their wellbeing, highlighting the importance of offering mental health resources in a competitive benefits market,” the survey report concluded.