Mental Health is Public Health: Tools for State and Local

Partners During COVID-19 

CAPT Elissa Meites, MD, MPH
Chief Editor, CDC COVID-19 Science Update
Office of the Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Debra Houry, MD, MPH

Acting Principal Deputy Director
​
Ms. Ahoua Kone, MPH
Behavioral Scientist

Caryn Murillo, MPH

Deputy for Partnerships and Risk Management
(Moderator)

                         August 23, 2021

cdc.gov/coronavirus 1
 Agenda
Notes

 Introduction  This call will be recorded and archived on

 Update on COVID-19 cdc.gov and on YouTube.     
 Presentation on CDC's Work on Mental Health Search: "cdc partner call"
 Presentation on Mental Health Tools for State and or "cdc youtube partner call“
Local Public Health Workers
Q&A:  We collect, sort and prep for
 Q&A from emails received​ questions prior to the call so we can
 Closing​ answer as many as possible  

Subscribe to get future call announcements:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019ncov/communication/videos/partner-calls/
2
CDC.gov Resources
• COVID Data Tracker Weekly Review includes state and territory data on reported
cases, variants, testing, vaccinations, hospitalizations, and deaths. 
o COVID Data Tracker Weekly Review | CDC

• Updated webpage with new information on the Delta variant and the updated
guidance. 
o Delta Variant: What We Know About the Science | CDC

• On August 11, 2021, CDC strengthened its recommendation for all people 12

years and older, including people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get
pregnant now, or might become pregnant in the future. 
o COVID-19 Vaccines During Pregnancy

3
Updates on COVID-19

Elissa Meites, MD, MPH

CAPT, USPHS
Editor, COVID-19 Science Update
Office of the Chief Medical Officer
CDC COVID-19 Emergency Response

cdc.gov/coronavirus 4
COVID-19 Situational Update
Global cases Global deaths Global​vaccinations
• Cumulative cases:  • Cumulative deaths:  • Cumulative vaccine doses: 
211,373,303 4,424,341 4,615,260,567

United States cases United States deaths United States​vaccinations

• Cumulative cases:  • Cumulative deaths:  • Cumulative vaccine doses:
37,583,545 625,375 362,657,771
• Average this week • Average this week • People who received ≥1 dose: 
(last 7 days): (last 7 days): 201,425,785
137,188/day 738/day • People who are fully vaccinated:
• Average last week • Average last week 170,821,621
(previous 7 days): (previous 7 days): • 60.7% of people received ≥1 dose ​
122,769/day 600/day 
• 51.5% of people are fully vaccinated​
• 12% increase in cases • 23% increase in deaths
over previous 7 days over previous 7 days
Source of U.S. information: https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker
Source of global information: https://covid19.who.int 5
This information current as of August 23, 2021.
COVID-19 Science Updates
Sustained Effectiveness of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Vaccines Against COVID-19-
Associated Hospitalizations Among Adults — United States, March–July 2021.
Tenforde et al. MMWR (August 18, 2021). 

 Vaccine effectiveness (VE) against hospitalization was 86% during the first 2–12
weeks post-vaccination, and 84% during the next 12 weeks.  
 VE was 90% for people without immunocompromising conditions.  
 VE was only 63% for people with immunocompromising conditions. 
 CDC now recommends that people whose immune systems are moderately to
severely compromised should receive an additional dose of mRNA COVID-19
vaccine, at least 4 weeks after their 2nd dose, for a total of 3 doses.  

6
COVID-19 Science Updates
New COVID-19 Cases and Hospitalizations Among Adults, by Vaccination Status —
New York, May 3–July 25, 2021. Rosenberg et al. MMWR (August 18, 2021).

 Vaccine effectiveness (VE) against hospitalization was >90%, but VE against

infection declined from 92% to 80% during May–July.  
 Decline in VE against infection in adults coincides with rapid increase in the Delta
variant, and relaxation of masking and physical distancing recommendations.  
 Factors driving the apparent changes in VE were uncertain. 
 Increased viral load of the Delta variant might underpin its increased
transmissibility and could potentially lead to reduced vaccine-induced protection
against infection. 

7
COVID-19 Science Updates
Effectiveness of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Vaccines in Preventing SARS-CoV-2
Infection Among Nursing Home Residents Before and After Widespread Circulation
of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 (Delta) Variant — National Healthcare Safety Network,
March 1–August 1, 2021. Nanduri et al. MMWR (August 18, 2021).

 Among nursing home residents, pre-Delta (March–May) vaccine effectiveness

(VE) against infection was 75%.
 VE against infection declined to 53% during the Delta period (June–July). 
 Lower VE could be caused by waning immunity, reduced protection against the
Delta variant, or both.  
 Vaccination of nursing home residents, as well as staff members and visitors,
should be prioritized.
 A potential need for another vaccine dose exists among populations at risk of
severe COVID-19.  8
Mental Health is Public Health: Tools for State and Local
Partners During COVID-19

Dr. Debra Houry, MD, MPH

Acting Principal Deputy Director
CDC

cdc.gov/coronavirus 9
Mental Health Data 

Questionnaire* Modules include:

• Health Related Quality of Life (Healthy Days/Frequent
Mental Distress)
• Bereavement
• Caregiving
• ACEs
• SDOH and Reactions to Race 
*Crosswalk with demographics (e.g., 
race, ethnicity, income, sexual 
orientation, gender identity) and other core questions

Household
Pulse Survey
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 Strategies to Prevent Suicide
Suicide: A Mental Health and Strengthen Economic
Supports
Public Health Problem  
Strengthen access to and
Contributors beyond delivery of suicide care
mental health
Create protective
environments

Promote connectedness

Teach coping and

problem-solving skills

Identify and support

people at risk

Lessen harms and

Note: Suicide decedents may have had multiple circumstances associated with suicide, so percentages will add to more than prevent future risk
100.
12
Source: CDC Vital Signs, 2018, https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/suicide/index.html
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 How Right Now

Evidence-based, partner-driven, multi-media campaign for audiences

disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and mental health challenges during
the pandemic. 
 Campaign Results

• Total campaign reach: 437,312,529

• Information seeking increased and was highest in May 2021
• Reached audiences most in need: People experiencing violence,
economic distress, and communities of color Most common
emotions
• Audience had 1.6x higher odds of reporting overall stress or stress and experienced
discord in the family
Grief among
• Audience had 2.2x higher odds of reporting mental health information English speakers
seeking Fear among 
• Campaign effects: Increased resiliency, increased use of self-care Spanish speakers
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strategies, and increased community engagement
15
Mental Health Resources for Public Health Workers

Ahoua Kone, MPH

Behavioral Scientist
Center for Global Health
CDC

cdc.gov/coronavirus 16
Strain of COVID-19 on Public Health Workforce

17
Symptoms of Mental Health Conditions Among Public
Health Workers, March-April, 2021
53% reported symptoms of at least 1 mental health
condition in the previous 2 weeks

32% reported symptoms of depression

26,174 survey
responses 30% reported symptoms of anxiety

37% reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress

disorder

8% reported suicidal thoughts

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Supporting PHWs Mental Health
Build awareness of
Address work symptoms of mental
practices that health conditions &
contribute to stress develop sustainable
and trauma coping strategies

Make employee
assistance
programs
accessible and
acceptable
Destigmatize
requests for
mental health
assistance

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Sample State Mental Health Resources
Michigan Stay Well Program
 Virtual support groups
 Mental wellness webinars
 Behavioral health guides

Delaware Division of Public Health

 Mental health resources
 Mental health check-in

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Sample State Mental Health Resources
Washington State Department of Health
 Behavioral health resources and recommendations
– “Coping with COVID” podcast and blog
– Self-care resources
– COVID-19 guidance for building resilience in the workplace
– COVID-19 guidance for maintaining healthy incident management and
emergency response teams

21
Federal Resources
 CDC resources
– CDC mental health and suicide prevention strategies pages
– Mental health resources specific to public health and health
professionals
– Mental health in the workplace
 Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
– Crisis counseling assistance and training programs

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Supporting Public Health Workers
 Organizations: Explore best practices and measures for staff support, such as
– Reasonable workload
– Recognition for achievements
– Time off
– Employee Assistance Program
 Individuals: Explore positive coping mechanisms and stress management, such as
– Support from family/friends, co-workers
– Meditation
– Exercise
– Nature

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Q&A with Panelist
Notes

CAPT Elissa Meites This call will be recorded and archived on cdc.gov
Chief Editor, CDC COVID-19 Science Update and on YouTube.      
Office of the Chief Medical Officer, CDC COVID-19
Emergency Response     Search: "cdc partner call" or "cdc YouTube
partner call“
Dr. Debra Houry, MD, MPH
Acting Principal Deputy Director
CDC

Ms. Ahoua Kone, MPH

Behavioral Scientist
Center for Global Health, CDC

24
Subscribe for future calls: 
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/communication
/videos/partner-calls/

The recording will be posted on cdc.gov and CDC's YouTube

channel.  *Search "cdc partner call" or "cdc youtube partner
call"

For more information, contact CDC

                      (232-4636)
1-800-CDC-INFO
TTY: 1-888-232-6348 www.cdc.gov

The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the
official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.