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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — A new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study, co-authored by a Boston company, revealed troubling numbers regarding mental health impact the pandemic has had on "unpaid caregivers."
In many cases, unpaid caregivers are defined as parents or guardians caring for people over the age of 18-years-old.
ARCHANGELS did a study with the CDC, evaluating 10,000 participants on the drivers of mental health symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts.
“Being an unpaid caregiver comes with a long history of mental health impact, all of which has been amplified by COVID-19. It’s vital that we reach and connect more people to support services, many of which already exist,” said ARCHANGELS co-founder/CEO Alexandra Drane. “Working with the CDC and others, this study quantifies the extraordinary impacts that an overwhelming number of caregivers experience every day-- often in complete silence-- with the goal of finding better ways to reach our caregivers and lift them up.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the study found that about 85% of surveyed parents/guardians who are also adult caregivers reported adverse mental health symptoms.
Of this group, about 52% reported they had serious suicidal thoughts.
ARCHANGELS is a national movement that aims to provide support to caregivers.
They provide a software called the Caregiver Intensity Index (CII) that combines the use of data and stories to engage with caregivers and make them feel supported.
WBZ NewsRadio's Carl Stevens (@CarlWBZ) reports:
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