JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

COVID-19 has created serious mental health consequences for people who are designated as essential workers or have become unemployed as a result of the pandemic.

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of psychiatric distress in these two sectors of the community and understand how digital mental health tools (DMHT) have been used to cope with the mental health consequences of the pandemic.

Methods:

Two thousand people were recruited from an online research community (Prolific) and completed a one-time survey about mental health symptoms, digital mental health use and preferred digital mental health features.

Results:

The final sample included 1,987 United States residents that identified as either an essential worker or someone who was unemployed due to COVID-19. Approximately 74.9% (1479/1987) of the sample endorsed at least one of the following: 1) probable depression, 2) anxiety, 3) risk for substance use disorder, 4) suicidal behaviors, 5) history of suicide attempt. Only 14.2% (277/1957) of the entire contributing sample reported using a DMHT to cope with stress associated with COVID-19. Of the 1,470 responding distressed individuals, 236 (16.1%) used a DMHT to cope with COVID-19 stress. Majority of the sample did not use a DMHT to cope (1710/1957, 85.9%). Compared to essential workers, those who were unemployed reported more concern regarding cost (χ21=19.41, P<.001) and had not considered using one (χ21=6.84, P=.009) As predicted, essential workers were more likely to report user burden concerns with DMHTs than participants unemployed due to COVID-19 (t214.5 = 3.20, P=<.002). All participants reported that mindfulness tools, information or education, positive psychology, and links to mental health resources were the most important features they would seek in a DMHT.

Conclusions:

This study highlights the remaining challenge hindering access to mental health resources, even under relaxed reimbursement rates for DMHTs under COVID-19. It also highlights what consumers (i.e., in this case essential workers and those unemployed by COVID-19) believe should be included in DMHTs and the overall role consumers see DMHTs playing in coping with prolonged situational stress.