Mental Health Conditions Raise COVID-19 Risks

Prior to the recommendation that all adults receive COVID-19 booster shots, people older than age 65 and those with comorbidities were at the front of the line. The list of qualifying preexisting conditions included mental health problems, as several studies have demonstrated a connection between COVID-19 risk and poor mental health. A study conducted at Yale found that those subjects with previous psychiatric diagnoses were 50% more likely to die due to COVID-19 illness than those without such diagnoses. Another study that looked at national electronic health records found that those with mental health diagnoses were also more likely to contract COVID-19 than those without. Reasons behind these increased risks include: diminished capacity to adopt protective behaviors during the pandemic, higher prevalence of isolation, and the presence of other chronic health conditions that frequently go without treatment. Click here to read more.