Behavioral Health and COVID-19: Higher-Risk Populations and Related Federal Relief Funding

The COVID-19 pandemic increased social isolation and stress—affecting the behavioral health of many Americans. Data suggests higher rates of anxiety and depression symptoms, and more substance use among many adults, as a result.

However, certain populations may be at higher risk of pandemic-related behavioral health effects, including children and adolescents, healthcare workers, and people from some racial or ethnic groups, like Latinos.

As of Sept. 2021, the federal government awarded over $8 billion in COVID-19 relief funding for behavioral health, mainly through grant programs that can generally serve those higher-risk populations.

What GAO Found

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic crisis—such as increased social isolation, stress, and unemployment—have...