WOONSOCKET, R.I. /PRNewswire/ — A recent CVS Health® (NYSE: CVS)/Morning Consult survey found that a majority of adults have significant concerns about their mental health and rates across the country continue to rise.

• Two-thirds (65%) of adults have experienced concerns about their own mental health or the mental health of their friends and family, which is up six percentage points from 2022 and 15 percentage points from 2020.
• About eight in 10 adults (77%) are concerned about mental health in the country, viewing it as a top concern in line with issues such as the economy (81%).
• 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 well-being apps (48%) and therapists (55%) for care.

“Mental health became a top concern in 2020 and it has only risen since,” said Taft Parsons III, M.D., Vice President and Chief Psychiatric Officer, 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.”

Americans are concerned about social media’s implications on their mental health

The survey also found that nearly four in 10 adults (37%) believe social media has hurt society at-large.

• As a result, a third of adults have started to turn off notifications for social media apps and are attempting to spend less time on social media.
• About half of parents feel that social media is impacting their children’s perceptions of the world and their children’s development.
• On the other hand, more than one in three adults (36%) report that social media has taught them about mental health issues.

“Our increasing use of technology has helped increase access to mental health care – CVS Health has had over 43 million mental health virtual visits since 2020 – and created a way for people to talk openly about the topic, reducing stigma,” added Parsons III. “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.”

CVS Health’s commitment to mental health care

As the leading health solutions company with resources that expand nationally and in communities across the country, CVS Health continues to increase accessibility to both in-person and virtual mental health services:

• In select states, consumers have access to in-person and virtual mental health services at MinuteClinic®. Approximately 78% of patients report a reduction in their depression symptoms¹.
• MinuteClinic offers depression screenings virtually and in all MinuteClinic locations.
• CVS Health launched Be Seen Be Heard to increase depression screenings among underserved communities.
• In April, as part of its Centering Youth Mental Health program, the CVS Health Foundation awarded grants to the Greater Flint Health Coalition, Kentucky Youth Advocates and Reinvent South Stockton Coalition to support their work to provide accessible adolescent and young adult mental health services.
• Project Health includes depression screenings at all their events.
• Resources for Living (RFL) takes a comprehensive, preventive approach to members’ mental health, improving patient access and driving cost savings, including total medical costs, prescription costs, hospital services and in-network care utilization.
• As part of its focus on reducing suicide attempts among Aetna members, CVS Health has seen a 16% reduction in suicide attempts among Aetna adult Commercial members when compared with a 2019 baseline.
• CVS Healthspire™:
  • Signify Health® screens individuals for depression in every In-Home Health Evaluation visit.
  • At Oak Street Health®, patients are able to schedule both behavioral and physical health appointments.
• CVS Health offers a number of mental health resources and guides on CVSHealth.com, including a resource center focused on the unique mental health needs of different populations – from the LGBTQ+ community to young adults to parents and caregivers.
• As part of the Beauty Mark initiative, CVS Health promotes healthier self-image and positive mental well-being by not materially altering the beauty imagery created for stores, marketing materials, websites, apps or social media.

For more information on how CVS Health is making mental well-being services more accessible, less complicated and more convenient, visit CVSHealth.com.

Methodology  

This poll was conducted by Morning Consult between March 19-21, 2024, among a national sample of 2,202 adults. The margin of error for the full sample is plus or minus two percentage points. The interviews were conducted online and the data were weighted to approximate a target sample of adults based on age, gender, educational attainment, race, and region.

1. Measured via PHQ-9 scores for patients who have completed more than one visit and reported having at least mild depression symptoms in their initial visit. Percentages do not add up to 100% due to rounding.

About CVS Health
CVS Health® is the leading health solutions company, delivering care like no one else can. We reach more people and improve the health of communities across America through our local presence, digital channels and over 300,000 dedicated colleagues – including more than 40,000 physicians, pharmacists, nurses and nurse practitioners. Wherever and whenever people need us, we help them with their health – whether that’s managing chronic diseases, staying compliant with their medications or accessing affordable health and wellness services in the most convenient ways. We help people navigate the health care system – and their personal health care – by improving access, lowering costs and being a trusted partner for every meaningful moment of health. And we do it all with heart, each and every day. Follow @CVSHealth on social media.

One of the key features that sets WebHealthAI apart from other healthcare AI tools is its ability to match consumers to doctors. By analyzing a user’s medical inquiries and health data, WebHealthAI can recommend doctors who specialize in the specific area of concern. This not only saves users time and effort in searching for appropriate healthcare professionals but also ensures that they are connected with the most relevant expertise.

WebHealthAI’s success in the healthcare marketplace can be attributed to its user-friendly interface and its dedication to addressing the specific needs of both consumers and caregivers. The platform’s intuitive design and easy navigation make it accessible to people of all ages, while its accurate and reliable medical information instills confidence in its users.

To maintain the highest standard of healthcare information, WebHealthAI collaborates with medical professionals and institutions to ensure that its database is up to date and accurate. This commitment to quality reflects WebHealthAI’s belief in the importance of providing accurate and reliable information to its users.

One of the most notable success stories of WebHealthAI is its impact on rural communities. In areas where access to healthcare can be limited, WebHealthAI has become an invaluable resource, providing remote users with access to medical advice and recommendations that they might not otherwise have. This has not only improved the healthcare outcomes for these individuals but has also alleviated the burden on local healthcare infrastructure.

Looking ahead, WebHealthAI has plans to expand its offerings, including the development of a mobile application for even greater accessibility. The team behind WebHealthAI is continuously working on enhancing the platform’s capabilities, with a focus on incorporating emerging technologies such as natural language processing and machine learning to further improve the accuracy and usability of the tool.

As more and more individuals recognize the potential of AI in healthcare, it is clear that WebHealthAI is at the forefront of empowering people to make informed decisions about their health. With its rapid growth and user base expansion, WebHealthAI is positioning itself as a gamechanger in the healthcare industry, revolutionizing the way people access and engage with healthcare information and services.

https://www.newswire.com/news/healthcare-ai-gamechanger-webhealthai-sweeps-the-healthcare-22287179

About WebHealth Network Media

WebHealth Network Media (WHNM) is a prominent healthcare publisher, aggregator, and digital media vendor. With over 25 specialized healthcare brands and websites covering various healthcare topics, WHNM offers premium content tailored for both healthcare professionals and consumers. Leveraging its first-party data obtained from these sites, WHNM executes highly effective digital media campaigns, precisely targeting healthcare professionals and consumers. Specializing in Display, Video, Connected TV, Audio, Email, eNewsletter, and Content Syndication campaigns, WHNM delivers impactful advertising solutions across multiple channels.

Source: WebHealth Network Media

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4 tips to prepare for natural disasters that can negatively impact physical and mental health

(Family Features) As you’re making your emergency preparedness checklist, it’s also important to protect your heart and overall health in the wake of a hurricane, tornado or other natural disaster.

The experts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predict an above-average Atlantic Ocean hurricane season for the seventh year in a row. Research shows it’s not only physical devastation that impacts the health and safety of people in the path of a natural disaster.

In fact, in a study presented at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology, Prevention, Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health 2021 Scientific Sessions, researchers found there were higher rates of high blood pressure, obesity and pre-diabetes among survivors of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico in 2017, as well as increased incidences of heart disease and stroke two years after the storm compared to two years prior to the hurricane.

It’s not only hurricanes that can have a negative impact on cardiovascular health. A study published in the journal “Hypertension” found a significant increase in blood pressure levels and the incidence of high blood pressure among people who were forced to evacuate following the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2012.

Gustavo E. Flores, M.D., a member of the American Heart Association’s Emergency Cardiovascular Care committee, said there are several factors that may lead to increased cardiovascular disease and risk after a natural disaster.

“During and after a storm, many people experience extreme stress and trauma, which research shows can lead to an increase in cardiovascular disease risk,” he said. “The impact can be more intense for heart disease and stroke patients. Additionally, in the aftermath of a significant natural disaster, property destruction and evacuations affect many basic support resources. This can make it challenging to see a health care professional for routine check-ups or refill or adjust medications, especially for more vulnerable populations.”

Flores, chairman and chief instructor for Emergency & Critical Care Trainings, LLC, said it’s important for people to be prepared and plan ahead. Consider these quick tips from Flores and the American Heart Association, which is celebrating 100 years of lifesaving service as the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all:

• Take time to write down any medical conditions, allergies and medications, including doses and the time you take medications, along with your pharmacy name, address and phone number. Keep the information with any other “go-kit” items you have handy for quick evacuation.
• If you need to evacuate, even temporarily, bring your medications and health information with you in a resealable plastic bag to help keep it dry.
• If your medication is lost, damaged by water or was left behind when you evacuated, research open pharmacies and seek a refill as quickly as possible. Some states allow pharmacists to make medically necessary exceptions on certain types of prescription refills during an emergency.
• Use the Patient Preparedness Plan if you have diabetes and use insulin. There you’ll find a checklist of supplies and guidelines to prepare for an emergency.

Another way to prepare for a possible medical emergency is to learn how to perform hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and how to use an automated external defibrillator until help arrives. If performed correctly, CPR can double or triple a person’s chance of survival.

Visit Heart.org for the latest on heart health and the Disaster Resources page for a wide range of helpful information.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

SOURCE:
American Heart Association