In a recent survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 63% of 18 to 24 year olds reported symptoms of anxiety or depression, with 25% reporting increased substance use to deal with that stress and 25% said that she had seriously considered killing myself.
“The mental health implications of the pandemic are much greater for younger adults,” said Dr. Shaker Saxena of the Harvard School of Public Health and a professor for the practice of global mental health courts. “The figures we have from the US suggest that nearly two-thirds of young adults have symptoms of anxiety or depression or other mental health problems.”
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 50% of all lifelong mental illness develops by the age of 14 and 75% by the age of 24.
Even when the COVID-19 crisis is over, Saxena explained that 10% of these adults will have long-lasting consequences from mental health problems they are currently dealing with.
“About a third may have a problem serious enough to affect their lives in terms of job performance and education,” said Saxena. “In fact, this could pose a much greater burden in terms of health and disability.”
Saxena added, “Many people are losing their jobs. Some people are earning much less income than before. There is uncertainty about where and what tomorrow will bring, which is faced much more by younger adults than middle or older adults because of this. is the time for change in their lives. “
The Healthy Minds Network conducted a survey and found that 80% of the students reported that COVID-19 negatively impacted their mental health.
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Experts fear that many of those affected will not seek the professional help they need, and Dr. Sarah Lipson, an assistant professor in the Department of Health Law Policy and Management at Boston University School of Public Health and co-principal investigator of the Healthy Minds Network Study, told ABC News experts are trying to quantify that.
“Students of color and low-income students will be significantly less likely to seek care if they experience mental health problems because of the cost and availability,” said Lipson. “Those are also the same students who are less likely to progress through higher education and graduate. There’s kind of a crossroads of outcomes that we care so much about for young adults in that regard.”
The rise of anxiety and depression
Saxena explained that the pandemic is a “perfect storm” that gives rise to uncertainty, resulting from fear and loss, and potentially leading to depression. Many young adults have lost quite a bit, especially when it comes to educational and professional opportunities.
“For people between the ages of 21 and 25, this is a time of expansion in their lives, with new connections and new things,” said Lipson. “All of that is being discontinued. I think this is a difficult time for parts of life to dwell on, when normally there is only a rapid development time where so much is happening socially and professionally.”
“The job market that young people enter,” she added, “is very unpredictable, which I think is stressful.”
Loneliness and social isolation
Mental Health America found that between April and September last year, 70% of people reported loneliness or isolation as the main contributing factor to mental health problems. Isolation is the actual separation from others, and loneliness is the accompanying feeling.
“One can be lonely despite being with others. Both loneliness and self-isolation have major health implications, and communication about the need to distance ourselves during the pandemic has been very unfortunate,” said Saxena.
He said social distance should really have been called physical distance, separate from social connection.
“People are being forced to do so because rules have been put in place,” he added. “However, the effort must be to be as connected as possible.”
Jordan Corcoran, an advocate and founder of Listen Lucy, a mental health organization, was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder at the age of 19 and, now 33, described the pandemic as very challenging.
“I feel like I work every minute of the day to keep my anxiety at bay,” said Corcoran. “Isolation is an important part of dealing with mental illness.”
Even after getting help and choosing to stand up for others struggling with mental illness, Corcoran still faces her own struggles every day.
“The world keeps putting all these obstacles in front of me. I don’t know how much longer I can do this,” Corcoran explains. “I check my mental health every day. It’s part of my survival as part of my journey. ‘
What can be done
Saxena said workplace stress – workers who are overworked, whether or not tied to company layoffs or restructuring – is a big contributor, and employers can step in to help.
“They need to be aware that people are going through stress and may develop mental disorders,” he said. “All of that should be covered as part of the benefits package, just like any other physical problem. If you’re an employer and your employee needs counseling and psychiatric help, they should really be encouraged, supported, and funded. in doing that. That is a best practice that is needed now more than ever. “
Lipson also said she believes college campuses should provide more mental health resources and training for teachers so they can better understand potential mental health problems among students.
“I think schools should consider expanding and investing in an on-campus mental health system with a broader range of resources, rather than just investing in more and more staff in a counseling center,” said Lipson. “It is an imbalance that will persist and increase in terms of the number of students needing assistance and the availability of counselors.”
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741. You can Reach Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860 (US) or 877-330-6366 (Canada) and The Trevor Project at 866-488-7386.
The video in the above media player was used in a previous report.
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