Department of Health and Human Services Issued Advisory on Mental Health Symptoms of Long COVID-19

Department of Health and Human Services Issued Advisory on Mental Health Symptoms of Long COVID-19

This article was originally posted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

June 23, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued an advisory to help medical professionals better recognize the mental health symptoms that may come with long COVID-19.

The nine mental health symptoms highlighted in the advisory were:

• Fatigue
• Cognitive impairment, including brain fog
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Sleep disorders
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Psychotic disorder
• Start of a substance use disorder

The advisory noted that social factors could contribute to the mental health problems for racial and ethnic minorities; people with limited access to health care; people who already had behavioral health conditions and physical disabilities; and people who were lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or intersex.

“Long COVID-19 has a range of burdensome physical symptoms and can take a toll on a person’s mental health. It can be very challenging for a person, whether they are impacted themselves, or they are a caregiver for someone who is affected,” Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement. “This advisory helped to raise awareness, especially among primary care practitioners and clinicians who were often the ones treating patients with Long COVID-19.”

The department said about 10% of people infected with COVID-19 had at least one long COVID-19 symptom. Physical symptoms included dizziness, stomach upset, heart palpitations, issues with sexual desire or capacity, loss of smell or taste, thirst, chronic coughing, chest pain, and abnormal movements. 

“We know that people living with long COVID-19 need help today, and providers need help understanding what long COVID-19 is and how to treat it,” Admiral Rachel Levine, MD, Assistant Secretary for Health, said in the statement. “This advisory helped bridge that gap for the behavioral health impacts of long COVID-19.”

Go to vaccines.gov or text your ZIP code to 438829 to find nearby places to get a vaccine. To learn more about the We Can Do This COVID-19 Public Education Campaign, visit wecandothis.hhs.gov.  

For additional health resources, visit staywellhealthub.com.