New Mental Health and Wellness Survey Finds Depression Increasing Among Nurses
Silver Spring, MD — As nurses mark one year of working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, a recent survey indicates a disproportionate impact on nurses in the millennial generation (ages 25-34), who report much higher levels of anxiety, feelings of being overwhelmed, and depression. These are the latest findings from the second Mental Health and Wellness Survey of more than 12,500 U.S. nurses conducted by the American Nurses Foundation (the Foundation).
Overall, survey results show an increase in depression among all nurses. In the Foundation’s Mental Health and Wellness Survey released in June of 2020, almost 30% of nurses said they are experiencing feelings of depression. In the latest survey this increased to nearly 40% of all nurses.
The American Nurses Foundation, working in partnership with the American Nurses Association (ANA), American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA), Emergency Nurses Association (ENA), American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), and Association of PeriOperative Registered Nurses (AORN), have developed the Well-Being Initiative to support the near- and long-term needs of nurses.
In March, the Foundation will publish results from the COVID-19 Impact Assessment Survey, the latest in the Pulse on the Nation’s Nurses Series. This comprehensive survey will provide important insights into how nurses are feeling now and how the pandemic impacted them mentally, financially, and professionally over the last year.
*Data collected through a survey administered by the American Nurses Foundation. Between December 4-30, 2020, 12,881 nurses completed this survey. *
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About the Pulse on the Nation’s Nurses Survey Series
This survey was part of the American Nurses Foundation’s Pulse on the Nation’s Nurses Survey Series to gather nurses’ insights and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. This survey series is made possible through individual and corporate donations made to the American Nurses Foundation Coronavirus Response Fund for Nurses, which launched in April 2020. All data gathered will be used to inform decisions about how to best support nurses during and after this public health crisis. Learn more and access survey insights on the pandemic’s impact on nurses’ mental health, financial impact and innovation here.
About the American Nurses Foundation
The American Nurses Foundation is the charitable and philanthropic arm of the American Nurses Association (ANA), with the mission to transform the nation’s health through the power of nursing. The Foundation supports research, education, and scholarships, which improve health, wellness, and patient care. For more information visit www.nursingworld.org/foundation.