A new national survey, looking at how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted young U.S. adults’ loneliness, reveals ‘significant depressive symptoms’ in 80 percent of participants.

Over 1,000 Americans aged 18-35 took part in the online anonymous questionnaire, which also asked the subjects to report on their anxiety and substance use.

The analysed findings, published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, show that «alarming» levels of loneliness are associated with significant mental health issues, asapproximately 61% of respondents reporting moderate (45%) to severe (17%) anxiety.

Meanwhile, 30% of interviewees disclosed harmful levels of drinking. And, although only 22% of the respondents reported using drugs, 38% of these reported severe drug use.

Therefore, a response with mental health care provision is «imperative,» lead author Professor Viviana Horigian, from the University of Miami, states.

«The convergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the loneliness and addiction epidemics in the US is here to stay,» she said.

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