Women worry more than men. That’s a scientific fact.

With worry rates reaching epic proportions as the result of the pandemic, many health professionals are concerned about the immediate health and well-being of American women, particularly its female healthcare and frontline workers, and Millennial moms, who are grappling with extraordinarily high stress levels.

A Yale study found that  14% of healthcare workers had probable major depression, 15% had generalized anxiety disorder, and 23% had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during the early months of the pandemic. More than 40% were also suspected to have alcohol-use disorder, according to the study published in PLOS. 

Recently, as many as 35% of healthcare workers were reported to have physical symptoms associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to a study reported in Frontiers of Psychology.

Frontline workers, who have direct trauma exposure and are witnessing people dying in pretty large numbers are disproportionately impacted according Tanja Jovanovic, professor of psychiatry at Wayne State University in Detroit.

Many of these frontline workers are also working moms and face increased stressors of trying to safeguard their families health and well-being while working under increasingly stressful conditions.

Among the general population, more than 97% of Millennial moms report their highest stress levels ever due to the pandemic, according to an annual poll published by Motherly.

Such acute stress levels are a natural pathway to depression, according to WebMD.

Coupled with other serious health issues like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the combination can be deadly according to researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, who recently discovered that women with both have a four-fold greater risk of early death from cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, type 2 diabetes, accidents, suicide and other causes.

The results are particularly troubling given the pandemic, according to Andrea Roberts, the lead author of the study and a senior research scientist in the Department of Environmental Health who worries about the impact that COVID-19 related stress and reduced social connections will have on at-risk women.

The study published online in JAMA Network Open is raising alarm bells among mental health professionals.

“These findings provide further evidence that mental health is fundamental to physical health — and to our very survival. We ignore our emotional well-being at our peril,” says Karestand Koenen, senior author of the study and professor of psychiatric epidemiology in the Department of Epidemiology and Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

The pandemic will pass, but its effects will be much linger on much longer if we don’t address the mental health issues of those at risk now, according to professionals who fear we may see a “Patriarchal pandemic.”

Some stress-relievers include:

1. Postpone major life changes where possible
2. Become better communicators. Be clear about your needs and ask others to do the same.
3. Seek enjoyable, healthy diversions like walking, yoga or improving your healthy cooking techniques.
4. Stay connected via zoom, facetime and other digital tools.
5. Control your workload. If you can’t reduce hours, take as many breaks as you can and try to step outside whenever possible.
6. Exercise as often as possible. It’s a great way to reduce stress.
7. Get support. If you have workplace or other counseling services available, use them.  Leverage online professional counseling services or free hotlines.
8. Relax whenever and wherever you can. Practice mindfulness or yoga, enjoy a relaxing bath or sip a soothing hot beverage. Even a 5- to 10-minute break can make a difference.
9. Celebrate small victories.
10. Make plans for the future.

Editor’s note: Discover other tips and tricks to control stress in these related articles: Coping with COVID fatigue and Hold off on hibernating: Use exercise and light therapy get through winter’s darker times The CDC recommends the following for those in more immediate need of resources:

• Call 911
• Disaster Distress Helplineexternal icon: CALL or TEXT 1-800-985-5990 (press 2 for Spanish).
• National Suicide Prevention Lifelineexternal icon: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for English, 1-888-628-9454 for Spanish, or Lifeline Crisis Chatexternal icon.
• National Domestic Violence Hotlineexternal icon: 1-800-799-7233 or text LOVEIS to 22522
• National Child Abuse Hotlineexternal icon: 1-800-4AChild (1-800-422-4453) or text 1-800-422-4453
• National Sexual Assault Hotlineexternal icon: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or Online Chatexternal icon
• The Eldercare Locatorexternal icon: 1-800-677-1116  TTY Instructionsexternal icon
• Veteran’s Crisis Lineexternal icon: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or Crisis Chatexternal icon or text: 8388255

Find a health care provider or treatment for substance use disorder and mental health

• SAMHSA’s National Helplineexternal icon: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) and TTY 1-800-487-4889
• Treatment Services Locator Websiteexternal icon
• Interactive Map of Selected Federally Qualified Health Centersexternal icon