Skip to content

APA Public Opinion Poll – Annual Meeting 2020

Interviews: 1,004 US Adults - Dates: September 14-16, 2020

Q1. How anxious are you about each of the following?

Ranked by highest percentage.

  Combined Extremely and Somewhat Anxious Extremely anxious Somewhat anxious Not that anxious Not anxious at all
Keeping myself or my family safe 80 45 35 15 5
COVID-19 (coronavirus) 75 44 31 17 8
My health 73 33 39 21 7
Gun violence in America 73 38 35 18 9
The upcoming 2020 presidential election 72 37 35 17 11
Paying my bills or expenses 67 37 30 21 13
The impact of climate change on the planet 67 34 33 20 13
The impact of politics on my daily life 61 22 39 27 12
My relationships with family, friends, and coworker 59 28 31 23 18
The impact of climate change on my mental health 55 24 31 26 19
Discussions about the 2020 election at work or in my personal life 51 20 31 26 23

Q2. In general, are you more or less anxious than you were at this time last year?

More anxious

62

Less anxious

11

About the same

24

Not sure

2

Q3. Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.

Ranked by highest percentage.

  Combined Strongly and Somewhat Agree Strongly agree Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Completely disagree Refused
Someone's mental health has an impact on their physical health 83 51 32 12 3 2 /
Untreated mental illness has a significant negative impact on the U.S. economy 69 35 34 22 6 3 /
There is less stigma against people with mental illness than there was 10 years ago 57 20 36 26 11 6 /
People with mental illness are far more likely to be victims of violence than be perpetrators of violence 51 22 29 35 10 4 /
I would not vote for a candidate for elected office who has been diagnosed with a mental illness, even if the candidate had been treated for it 41 18 22 33 14 13 /
The mental health needs of military veterans are being met under the current mental health system 33 16 17 21 24 23 /

Q4. How would you define your benefit status as an employee?

Full-time with benefits

33

Part-time with benefits

5

Employed without benefits

10

Self-employed

6

Not employed

46

Questions 5-7 were shown to currently full or part time paid employees.

Q5. Do you agree or disagree with the following statements about mental health in the workplace?

Ranked by highest percentage.

  Combined Completely and Somewhat Agree Completely Agree Somewhat Agree Somewhat Disagree Completely Disagree Not Sure
I know how to access mental health care services through work if I need it 70 39 31 14 7 9
My employer offers sufficient mental health care resources/benefits 68 36 32 13 9 11
I feel comfortable utilizing mental health services with my current employer 67 31 36 15 11 9
I can discuss mental health openly and honestly with my coworkers 65 29 36 15 11 9
I can discuss mental health openly and honestly with my supervisors 62 32 31 15 11 11
I worry about retaliation, or being fired, if I take time off for my mental health 52 22 29 20 22 7
I worry about retaliation, or being fired, if I seek mental health care 43 20 23 23 29 6

Q6. Which of the following types of mental health resources are offered by your employer?

Ranked by highest percentage.

Employee Assistance Program (EAPs)

39

Primary care that offers sufficient mental health coverage

34

Telehealth services that offer virtual mental health care (e.g., through an app or videoconferencing system)

27

Mental health days

18

On-site mental health care – such as a clinic with therapists on staff

16

Mental Health First Aid training

17

Holistic wellness programs

15

Virtual coaching – such as Headspace

13

Other

5

Don't know

9

None of the above

17

Q7. Beyond what is normally offered, which of the following services or benefits has your workplace offered to help during the coronavirus pandemic?

Offering access to additional health services

41

Offering access to additional mental health services

35

None of these

23

I don't know what my workplace is offering

18

Q8. In the past 6 months, how often have you worn a face mask when leaving your home?

Always

66

Usually

20

About half of the time

8

Rarely

3

Never

3

Q9. Why did you not wear a face mask when leaving your home?

This question was shown to participants who did not select "Always" in Question 8. Answers are ranked by highest percentage.

I was not close to other people

54

I was outdoors

49

They are uncomfortable

26

They are not required

20

They are not effective in preventing the spread of coronavirus

19

They make me anxious

14

I don't own a face mask or know how to make one

3

Another reason

10

None of the above

6

Q10. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

Ranked by highest percentage.

  Combined strongly/ somewhat agree Strongly agree Somewhat agree Neutral Somewhat disagree Strongly Disagree
I am anxious about the possibility of getting coronavirus 47 21 26 14 13 20
I am anxious about the possibility of my family members and loved ones getting coronavirus 56 27 29 15 12 17
I am anxious that I will become seriously ill or die if I get coronavirus 42 21 21 18 16 24
I am anxious that I will spread coronavirus to my family and loved ones 41 20 21 19 17 23

Q11. Please select the statement(s) below that describes you. "If I was exposed to or started exhibiting symptoms of coronavirus, I would be concerned…"

Ranked by highest percentage.

that I would be quarantined or isolated from my family

42

to tell people I had recently been in contact with

37

to tell my friends and family

34

to tell a health care provider or seek care

32

to tell my job or school

22

that others in my community might find out and treat me differently

19

None of the above

29

Q12. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

  Combined strongly/ somewhat agree Strongly agree Somewhat agree Neutral Somewhat disagree Strongly Disagree
The coronavirus pandemic is having a serious impact on my mental health 37 13 24 23 15 25
I am concerned about running out of food/medicine/supplies 30 11 19 18 22 29

Q13. In what ways has the coronavirus impacted your day-to-day life?

Ranked by highest percentage.

I have been having trouble sleeping because I'm anxious about coronavirus

22

I have been having a hard time concentrating on other things because I'm thinking about coronavirus

20

I have been fighting more with my partner or loved ones (e.g., because we are stuck at home together)

17

I have been consuming more alcohol or other substances/drugs than I normally do

14

None of the above

52

Q14. Which of the following best describes your experience with telehealth?

I have never heard of telehealth before taking this survey

27

I have heard of telehealth, but I have not personally used it

42

I have used telehealth services

31

Q15. When was the first time you used telehealth services?

This question was shown to participants who selected "I have used telehealth services" in Question 14.

Within the past 6 months

72

6-11 months ago

14

1-4 years ago

7

5 or more years ago

7

Q16. Do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

This question was shown to participants who selected "I have used telehealth services" or "I have heard of telehealth, but I have not personally used it" in Question 14. Answers are ranked by highest percentage.

  Combined strongly/ somewhat agree Strongly agree Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly Disagree
Telehealth is convenient 71 34 37 22 3 3
Telehealth is private 62 27 35 29 6 3
I would use telehealth for a physical health concern or illness 59 21 38 23 12 7
I would use telehealth or telepsychiatry for a mental health concern or illness 49 21 29 27 11 12
I would use a support line or ‘warm line’ during a time of need 47 16 31 39 7 7
The quality of care received in a telehealth session can be the same as that of an in-person office visit 40 14 26 28 21 11
Telehealth is less expensive than in-person, doctor’s office visits 38 15 23 49 7 6
I prefer telehealth compared to in-person, doctor’s office visits 31 12 19 28 19 22
Chatbots are a quick and easy way to receive mental health care services 27 10 17 44 14 15

Q17. Do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

Ranked by highest percentage.

  Combined strongly/ somewhat agree Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly Disagree Not Sure
Gun violence, including violence from mass shootings, is a public health threat 83 49 34 11 6 /
Congress should do more to address the issue of gun violence, including violence from mass shootings 78 47 31 14 8 /
Systematic racism impacts the mental health of Americans, especially people of color 76 41 34 15 9 /
Climate change is already impacting the health of Americans 72 37 36 17 10 /
Climate change is already impacting the mental health of Americans 67 31 37 20 12 /
The state of law enforcement in the U.S. today directly/indirectly impacts my mental health 57 23 34 26 17 /
The state of racial injustice today directly/indirectly impacts my mental health 54 22 32 25 21 /

Q18. Compared to previous election years, are you more or less anxious for the outcome of the 2020 presidential election than you were in previous election years?

More anxious

57

Less anxious

9

About the same

30

Not sure

4

Q19. How much of a priority do you think policymakers in Washington, D.C. consider mental health? Do they consider mental health to be...?

A top priority

16

Somewhat of a priority

29

Somewhat less of a priority

34

Not a priority

21

Refused

/

Q20. When it comes to politics, as of today, do you consider yourself to be…

Combined Republican/leans Republican

36

A Republican

30

An independent who leans Republican

6

An independent

19

Combined Democrat/leans Democrat

42

An independent who leans Democrat

9

A Democrat

33

Some other party

3

Medical leadership for mind, brain and body.

Join Today