Counselors: covid causing new mental health issues for youth, making old ones worse
December 31, 2020
Erin Kim/YJI
The hardships of the pandemic are creating new mental health problems for young people and exacerbating existing ones, according to counselors and therapists who work with youth.
In interviews with Youth Journalism International, mental health professionals from five different countries discussed the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on teens and young adults.
For some, the uncontrollable circumstances of their lives are what set young people up for a difficult time during quarantine, according to the professionals interviewed.
Canadian psychotherapist Helen Butlin said socializing with peers – which is difficult in the pandemic – is extremely important to the development of children and adolescents.
Experts predict post-covid mental health epidemic
December 31, 2020
Parnian Shahsavary/YJI
A mental health crisis could be imminent because of the impact of lockdowns and other stressful aspects of the pandemic, mental health professionals told Youth Journalism International.
Helen Butlin, a psychotherapist in Ontario, Canada, said people are already vulnerable and struggling.
The “tender, raw spots in our mental well being,” Butlin said, are under tremendous pressure, making coping more difficult.
She wasn’t the only one.
“This is a collective trauma that we are all facing. It is a feeling of helplessness,” said Michelle Collins, a certified clinical trauma counselor in Houston, Texas.
Take the path that leads to good mental health. Get help if you feel down. (Chuying Huo/YJI)
For the world’s youth, the repercussions of covid-19 weren’t only felt by physical distancing and isolation, but also by their hearts and minds as concerns about the disease impacted their mental health and well-being.
Since the severity of mental health issues varies from one person to another, it can be difficult to tell whether problems are simply everyday stress from online school and missing friends or something more serious that needs to be addressed.
Someone who was healthy before the confinement may not be now. Should they seek help, and if so, how?