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There is growing awareness of the significant mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on many Americans. Less is known about the effects on individuals who were living with mental health conditions prior to the pandemic's onset. In addition, little research has explored how this group is coping positively with the challenges of COVID-19. Understanding the strengths these individuals bring to pandemic demands and disruptions can inform recovery for these individuals in the aftermath of this public health emergency. Using results from a cross-sectional, online survey administered during April and May 2020, we use qualitative methods to examine how individuals with symptoms of depression and anxiety were coping with COVID-19. Participants were recruited from two networks of statewide behavioral health community programs in New Jersey and New York. Data come from 48 participants who reported current symptoms of anxiety assessed by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2 Scale and/or depression assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-2. These respondents demonstrated resilience in navigating disruptions brought on by COVID-19 and reported a range of healthy coping strategies. We identified three themes characterizing successful coping strategies, including utilizing social support systems, practicing self-care, and adjusting one's mindset to deal with challenging experiences. When designing programs, policies, and clinical approaches to support people with mental health conditions, it is essential to focus on strengths. The coping strategies shared by the individuals in this study demonstrate and build on their resilience. More research is needed to discover the strengths people exhibit to deal with the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

People with behavioral health disorders may be particularly vulnerable to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, yet little is known about how they are faring. A mixed-methods, anonymous needs assessment was conducted to understand changes in the lives of adults with mental health and substance use disorders since the pandemic onset. A cross-sectional, online survey was completed by 272 adults in April and May 2020, recruited from statewide networks of community programs in New Jersey and New York. Measures included the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2 to screen for depressive and anxiety disorders. Also assessed was the pandemic's impact on sleep and dietary patterns, exposure to COVID-19 infection, and access to health care and medications. Finally, respondents were asked to describe in their own words any changes in their lives since the pandemic began. Over one-third (35.1%) screened positive for generalized anxiety disorder and over one-quarter (29.6%) screened positive for major depressive disorder. The majority reported pandemic-related changes in eating and sleeping patterns and exposure to COVID-19 infection. Multivariable logistic regression analysis found that many changes attributed to the pandemic were positively and significantly associated with screening positive for anxiety and depressive disorders. Qualitative analysis confirmed these findings and identified participants' resilience stemming from social support, emotion management, and self-care. These results can inform the design of services that assist this population to bolster self-management skills and reestablish daily habits to improve their lives during and following the pandemic., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Behavioral Medicine.)