Perceived Mental Health and Socioeconomic Impacts of Testing Positive for COVID‐19: Qualitative Findings From a Regional Sample in New Mexico

ABSTRACT While the consequences of the COVID‐19 pandemic were widely documented, little is known about specific mental health and social determinants of mental health (SDMH) outcomes according to individuals who tested positive for COVID‐19, particularly in rural and underserved regions of the United States. Through a generic qualitative approach, we conducted a thematic analysis to understand how testing positive for COVID‐19 shaped the mental health and socioeconomic realities of eight adult residents of New Mexico, guided by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (2025) Research Framework. Participants reported adverse emotional experiences, income disruptions, relational rupture, and barriers to quality healthcare. Findings suggest these outcomes are interrelated, provide greater context on the ramifications of a COVID‐19 diagnosis on SDMH, and underscore the need for universal SDMH assessment, culturally responsive treatment planning, and multilevel advocacy in counseling practice.