More often About the same Less often MENTAL HEALTH Coping with stress/anxiety In its 2021 recap, Google announced its most searched-for phrase of the year was “how to heal,” perhaps unsurprising after the year that was 2020. “Maintaining mental health” also trended heavily on the search engine in 2021, appearing more frequently Doing a digital or social media “detox” than in any previous year. The pandemic continues to generate high demand for mental health services while simultaneously creating challenges for 3. Our research reveals the ways in patients to receive care Drinking enough water which patients are managing their stress and anxiety, with most engaging in activities such as meditation and exercise (see Figure 8). 22 percent of global consumers report they do not engage in any of these behaviors to help mitigate their stress or anxiety, nor Eating healthy do they manage their stress/anxiety at all—a potential growing threat to their overall mental health. Engaging in hobbies or other mindfulness activities Engaging in certain activities to help cope with stress, such as meditation, acupuncture, exercise, and so on Exercising Taking days off from work/school when feeling stressed/anxious Getting enough sleep Using apps to help with stress/ anxiety management Having a support group of people Taking vitamins and/or supplements they can talk to when needed Using herbs/supplements that Figure 7. Patient Frequency of Healthcare Behaviors. promote relaxation Respondents indicate the level of frequency by which they engage in certain healthcare habits. Seeing a counselor/ therapist in person Consumers are taking sufficient measures to help maintain their well-being, but the persisting pandemic will likely have an adverse Seeing a counselor/therapist online effect in the long run if these underlying chronic conditions aren’t properly addressed. Figure 8. Patients’ Methods for Stress/Anxiety Management. Patients state the ways in which they manage levels of stress and/or anxiety. 14 15