Mental health epidemic looms for this young pandemic generation
Young adults and teens are faring exceedingly well physically against COVID-19 with relatively few severe illnesses and deaths, but a mental health epidemic exacerbated by lockdowns and fear of COVID-19 is taking a heavy toll.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports only 177 deaths among youth age 5 to 18 due to COVID-19 through Feb. 20. With about 58 million in this age group in the U.S., that is a .00000305 mortality rate.
Still another CDC report shows the proportion of children’s emergency department visits related to mental health went up by as much as 31% from April to October of 2020. Moreover, suicide rates, which were already rising among people age 10-24, spiked during months of heightened COVID-19 stress.
Residential treatment program officials have seen anxiety from parents and referring professionals about admitting their kids or clients that is out of line with the data. The risk of illness from COVID-19 for the teens and young adults we serve is small compared to their risk of death from overdose and advancing mental illness. Mental health is the new pandemic as disproportionate fears isolate young people from the support they need.
Pandemic-induced disruptions to the lives of young people — just as they are coming of age — will do long-term harm to individuals and to an entire generation. The milestones of youth are essential to healthy development.
Independence, identity, socialization and launching into the next phase of life are crucial for adolescents and young adults to find a sense of accomplishment. Young people are feeling legitimate loss and grief over missing highpoints such as graduations, college acceptances and playing sports after working for years to reach senior status.
Starting college, going to work and moving out of parents’ homes are pivotal steps towards independence. Missing such longanticipated mileposts can have immediate and longterm ramifications, especially for Generation Z, whose oldest members are on the cusp of adulthood with high expectations for launching careers.
Too often, distressed teens and young adults go unnoticed. Adults, after all, have their own stressors. Many parents are worried about losing wages, working from home or in unsafe environments. They are juggling relentless demands of homeschooling, while worrying about their own aging parents in a pandemic.
With socially distanced, limited in-person classes, young people are less likely to have direct contact with teachers and others who might spot and address escalating mental health issues. On top of that, the pandemic has left families afraid to go to non-urgent medical appointments, eliminating another set of professionals who might otherwise identify mental health issues.
We must not allow fear to keep us from addressing the mental health needs of the teens and young adults in our lives.
It can be easy to write off signs of mental illness as normal adolescent changes. Warning signs to heed include declining grades with worrisome changes around thinking and organizational ability; destructive behavior; extreme mood swings; changes in sleeping and eating patterns; an excessive need to escape through drug or alcohol abuse; self-harm such as skin cutting; excessive exercise; harmful oppositional behaviors; or problems with peers due to anger, threats, or sexually acting out.
Adults should take care of themselves while also checking in with teens about how they are coping. When kids feel connected, they are more likely to open up.
If you are concerned, contact a therapist or your pediatrician. Remember that telecare is available in many settings for families concerned about COVID-19 exposure. Vaccinations for health care and mental health workers are making in-person consultations even safer.
While we get the nation vaccinated for COVID-19, let us also make sure we inoculate a new generation against long-term harm by listening and getting help for those who need it. COVID-19 is not a pandemic for young people. Mental health is. If you know a teen who is showing signs of trouble, get help for them now.