Assessing the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health in Patients Presenting to a Student-Run Free Clinic

Background Mental health is an important part of patient care, therefore it is imperative to understand how it’s recognized and treated. Socioeconomic status and the COVID19 pandemic contribute to disproportionate incidences of mental illness1, 2, 10, 11, 12. This study uses data from a student-run clinic, the Rowan-Virtua Community Health Center (RVCHC), to examine disparities in mental health needs and screenings among the local population. Hypothesis It was hypothesized that underserved populations are at a disadvantage when it comes to both mental health screenings and treatment due to restricted access to healthcare and other unmet needs. Additionally, the pandemic was expected to have worsened this gap in care. Methods Over 4 years, 62 patients were enrolled: 38 during the pandemic and 24 post-pandemic. Participants were given the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 surveys to screen for depression and anxiety. Data was analyzed for differences in overall levels of depression and anxiety based on status of the pandemic, gender, age, and race. Results Preliminary data shows no significant difference in the prevalence of anxiety or depression pre- or post-pandemic based on gender, age, or race. Conclusions Current findings show no statistical significance among groups of gender, age, or race at the RVCHC. This could be a result of minimally elevated anxiety and depression among this population despite the pandemic. Regardless, the study provides helpful insight into how student-run clinics can provide better care to the community via access to mental health screening. Future directions may expand on these results with an increased enrollment.