Current depression, suicidal thoughts/ideation, and substance use among adults by race U.S. 2020

From April to May 2020, around 23 percent of Hispanic/Latino adults reported having suicidal thoughts/ideation in the last 30 days, compared to around 5.3 percent of white, non-Hispanic adults. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in increased mental health issues and greater instances of substance abuse among many people. This statistic illustrates the prevalence of current depression, suicidal thoughts/ideation, and substance use increase or initiation among U.S. adults from April to May 2020, by race/ethnicity.

Prevalence of current depression, suicidal thoughts/ideation, and substance use increase or initiation among U.S. adults from April to May 2020, by race*

Characteristic	Current depression	Sucidial thoughts/Ideation	Substance use increase or initiation
White, non-Hispanic	25.3%	5.3%	14.3%
Black, non-Hispanic	27.7%	5.2%	15.6%
Hispanic/Latino	40.3%	22.9%	36.9%
Other, non-Hispanic**	31.4%	8.9%	15.1%

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Release date

February 2021

More information

Region

United States

Survey time period

From April to May 2020

Number of respondents

1,004 respondents

Age group

18 years and older

Method of interview

Online survey

Supplementary notes

* Current depression is defined as a score of ≥10 on the eight-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8). The PHQ-8 is adapted from the nine-item PHQ (PHQ-9), which is based on the nine criteria for diagnosis of depressive disorders in the DSM-IV. Suicidal thoughts/Ideation is defined as an affirmative response to the question “At any time in the past 30 days, did you seriously think about trying to kill yourself?”. Substance use increase or initiation is defined as an affirmative response to the question “Have you started or increased using substances to help you cope with stress or emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic? Substance use includes alcohol, legal or illegal drugs, or prescriptions drugs that are taken in a way not recommended by your doctor.”
** Includes participants who identified as Native American/Alaska Native, Asian, multiracial, or another race/ethnicity.

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