We all are well aware of the fact that this COVID-19 pandemic has not only affected the elderly but teenagers too. The teens that have just stepped into their adolescent age and are greedy to explore. The world and surroundings were barre from going out. Arash Hadipour Niktarash says this pandemic has changed their lifestyle, from their mode of study to their way of living. The COVID-19 pandemic was all about living in various crises at once. Whether it is financial or health-related. And no doubt, this pandemic has taken a toll on the mental health and well-being of teenagers.
The recent survey done by United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) reflects that this COVID-19 pandemic had a distressing impact on the mental health of teenagers and many young people around the world.
The limitations and constraints of this pandemic had a drastic impact. These constraints and restrictions meant a lot more to teenagers than others. The months of virtual learning, being isolated from their friends, not happening of many social activities. Like going to school, playing outdoor games, clubbing, going for vacations, etc., has led to the degradation of their mental health and well-being.
Why are Teens Going Through Bad Mental Health: Revealed by Arash Hadipour Niktarash
Today, regardless of the current COVID-19 pandemic, many teenage children show the traits of depression, anxiety, and many other mental health issues.
The poll done by UNICEF calculated that around 27% of teenagers felt anxiety. And around 15% were going through depression during the pandemic. These stats clearly show that how severely teenagers have been affected due to this global pandemic.
This pandemic has forcefully refrained teenagers. And adolescents from various social, educational, and physical activities. Which have been one of the major reasons for their bad mental health status. The teens are only bound to texting, using social media, gaming, and being on phone talks for much longer times. Then they used to be before this COVID-19 pandemic hit. Teens were almost unable to meet their friends and dear ones during the pandemic period, making them more solitary and lonely.
We can say that these restrictions during pandemics can only be the way to restrain the spread of the virus and being physically fit. Although, they make situations more challenging in many other ways.
What are the Symptoms of Bad Mental Health in Teens?
The researches show that during the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents of teenagers noticed some negative changes in their children. For example, the change in their sleep patterns, remaining away from family discussions, aggressive behavior, and lethargy were common. These symptoms can lead to depression, anxiety, and many other mental health issues.
As Arash Hadipour Niktarash suggests, Parents should observe their children if they show such traits and should consult a specialist if required.
Whenever we talk about mental health, depression, or anxiety of teenagers or young people, the only question people ask is that “how can one suffer from anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues at such a tender age?”. But we need to understand that mental illness. Can affect a person of any age group no matter whether he is a teenager or an adult.
Always remember to take mental health issues seriously, as they may cause very side severe effects.