Mental Health and Covid
- onceuponageneratio
- Jan 8, 2022
- 2 min read
COVID and the silent suffering of the Youth
Nearly three years ago the COVID-Pandemic started which concluded in worldwide lockdowns and social distancing. This drastic changes in all of our lives had its consequences, visible and invisible. What do I mean with that? I talk about the shockingly high rise of Mental Health problems, especially in the youth. Children and adolescents are of the current situation with regard to their educational and diverse development opportunities clearly affected, because childhood and adolescence are phases in the life cycle with unique social sational requirements and phases of life in which experiences have a particularly formative effect.
The WHO Europe warns that the Fear, worry and restlessness caused by the Covid-Pandemic result in higher stress- and anxiety rates, while anti-covid-regulations like quarantines, lockdowns and their consequences for our routines and usual activities cause more cases of depression, alcohol- and drug abuse as well as self-harming or even suicidal behaviour.
The COVID-Pandemic leaves unseen scars, especially on the younger generation. 56.2% of young adults between the ages of 18-24 reported symptoms of Anxiety and/or depressive disorder during the COVID 19-Pandemic. It even hits the youngest: 22.1% of parents reported a worsening in the mental health of their children aged 5-12 years.
But it is really the COVID-Pandemic that causes all this? Yes. From January to June 2019 an average of 11% of young adults (18-24) reported anxious and/or depressive symptoms. Only two years later, in January 2021, this number has raised to 41.1%!
130 out of 347 German psychotherapists said, that the symptoms of the children and teenagers they treat often or very often became more severe, only 27 said they didn’t. The mental health of teenagers from the UK has reached a new low too: In 2020, only 56% of teenagers were 100% happy with their own health (Ten years ago it was 67%).
Worldwide, 46% of adolescents say that they feel less motivated while doing things that they usually enjoy, 36% say that they even feel less motivated to do regular daily chores.
Now, what can we do to lower this damage on our mental health? One thing that all of the regulations, quarantine and homeschooling has caused is a lack of routine. Try to maintain a daily routine, that might help you to feel in control and calmer. Keep contact with friends and family, for example through calls, zoom, texts or even letters, everything you can do to keep your social life while still being safe. Physical activity has an impact on Mental Health too, so try to include walks, or something similar, into your routine.
If you feel like it´s all becoming too much, talk to people you trust, like friends and family, or even teachers or therapists. Be strong, all of this is going to end sooner or later.
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