With the recent passing of the one-year mark since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the long-term effects have become more apparent. Not only has the virus taken over 2 million lives worldwide, it also has had a profoundly detrimental impact on the mental health of billions of people around the globe. Research on Chinese citizens at the start of the pandemic found that symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress were common reactions to the pandemic. These effects were mirrored in other countries and increased over time. For example, a more recent study in the United States found that one in four adults reported symptoms of anxiety or depression—an increase from one in 10 in 2019. For some, the increased levels of stress and anxiety have also been accompanied by poorer sleep and increased alcohol and substance use—exacerbating mental health problems further. The rise in mental health problems during the pandemic cannot be attributed to a single factor. Instead, psychologists suggest these negative …