The pandemic that has rocked the world has impacted everyone in one way or another. Isolation, loss, grief, and financial woes have plagued Americans young and old. While some parents have tried to shield their children from the struggles of the times, many researchers are now evaluating the connection between youth and mental health struggles amid COVID-19. Sadly, young people have not been immune to the disparities and challenges that the virus has inflicted on society.
According to a poll conducted by C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, “the mental health effects of the pandemic are more likely to have a significant impact on teenagers.” Mental health issues have reared their ugly heads for many, manifesting in depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders.
It’s important to understand the pandemic’s role in young people’s mental health and how we will all slowly begin getting back to normal in a post-COVID-19 world. The online portal can connect you to a mental health treatment facility to begin the process of recovery.
Has COVID-19 Caused Depression?
While a global pandemic itself cannot make people depressed, the sudden interruption in what we know as “normal” can lead to feelings of isolation, hopelessness, and sadness. For many young people who thrive on contact and socialization, social distancing and lack of contact have been more than they could bear, erupting in feelings of disconnection, loneliness, and ultimately, depression.
Having their teens at home was comforting for many parents, knowing they were not exposed to the potentially deadly virus. Unfortunately, as they were busy trying to work and keep the family safe, they may have missed the warning signs that their teen was slowly slipping into depression.
Several symptoms that parents can watch for in their teen include:
- Difficulty sleeping or sleeping more than usual
- Sudden and erratic mood changes
- Lack of interest in things they once loved
- Inability to concentrate
- Substance abuse
- Lack of energy
If you recognize several of these symptoms in your teen, it is time to connect them with a mental health treatment center to help them manage their symptoms as the world slowly returns to normal. Treatment Connection can help.
Is Talk of the COVID-19 Vaccination Causing Anxiety?
While most of us have spent months in isolation and are looking forward to returning to some type of normalcy, it is important to note that the vaccination for coronavirus is an important step in making that happen. However, for many teens whose mental health may already have been affected, the vaccination itself may be a source of anxiety.
It is a fact that the vaccine is new and could potentially carry its own risks and side effects. As Dr. Munoz, one of the principal investigators in Pfizer’s pediatric vaccine clinical trials, shares with parents, “we have a vaccine that is safe and effective for children.”
In an attempt to ease the anxiety that some teens may be feeling about receiving the vaccination, Dr. Munoz recommends sharing some important information:
- Side effects from the first dose occur infrequently but may include injection site soreness, redness around the area, and slight fever
- Side effects from the second dose typically last one to three days
- The potential harmful long-term effects of COVID-19 outweigh the unknowns of the vaccine
It is recommended for anyone receiving the vaccination to drink plenty of water to alleviate symptoms if any.
Although talk of the vaccine may be scary and a little unsettling to many people, it may be overwhelming and consuming for teens experiencing anxiety. Assure your teen that medical professionals have thoroughly tested it for efficacy, and it has already been administered to millions of people around the world.
Explore Mental Health Treatment Options to Get Back to Normal
As schools prepare to reopen, businesses open their doors, sporting events start back up, and outdoor activities expand, everyone is eager to get back to normal, whatever that may be in a post-COVID-19 world.
It is important to provide your teen with the resources and help needed to get them on the road to recovery and begin enjoying life again, however that may present itself. Use our online portal at Treatment Connection to identify the nearest and best mental health treatment center to help you and your family emerge from the pandemic and return to normal.
