Current Event II: Coronavirus and Teenage Mental Health
The massive outbreak of the global pandemic in 2020, has negatively affected every part of our daily life, whether it is our relationships, education, or work. Aside from causing a global economic crisis, the newly spread coronavirus has disrupted the lives of individuals all over the world. Hundreds of millions of people were infected with COVID-19, and the merciless disease took away lives of over 6 million people worldwide. Therefore, it is not surprising that the world has seen a 25% increase in depression and anxiety among the global population, however, youngsters and women were affected the most, as reported by WHO.
Different consequences of the pandemic have destroyed the mental health of world’s population because people lost their jobs, faced loss of their loved ones, and encountered social isolation, and increased levels of crime and poverty. All of these became massive stress factors for numerous families and their children.
The global organization, WHO, further reported that young adults were at a disproportionally high risk of committing suicide and attempting self-harm. Because of the pandemic, children were confined within the four walls of their homes, with very limited or no social interaction with their friends and peers, social media and internet became the online escape route for youngsters. The younger the children, the more difficult it is to be understanding the ongoing changes around their lives. Why can’t I go to school? Why do I have to wear a mask? Why does everyone around me seems so stressed?
As I have said, families faced lay-offs and deaths, this could have triggered constant arguments among adults, where children became the witnesses of these conflicts. Throughout the pandemic, domestic violence, racism, and feeling of loneliness, became heavy triggers for adolescent anxiety, depression and suicide. The increased use of internet exposed children to more online bullying on various social media platforms, and online communication with friends could not replace the in-person interaction with the peers.
Hey! thank you for this article. I personally was lucky enough not to experience most of the things other people had to go through, even though I did notice some outbursts in my behaviour, hah. Some of my close friends around me got affected by that though and I listened to many stories. I am so grateful you opened up this problem and I would love to read more. Especially about how we could help those that were affected and what measures could be taken in order to prevent similar pandemics!
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