When the first lockdown hit, most students were happy to get a few extra days off from school. But then the second lockdown happened, and then the third. With each online class, these teens wished they could go back to in-person learning, maybe not for school itself, but for the opportunity to see and interact with other people.
As restrictions heightened, most people realized that this virus was going to take over our lives. For months the news was filled with panic and despair, and now my Instagram feed mainly consists of Covid positivity rates and so on. While it is highly significant that we understand what is going on in the world around us, the importance of taking care of our mental health and wellbeing has gotten lost in the process. Of course, this should always be a priority, but especially now with lockdowns and limited social interaction, it is something we must take seriously. In this article I highlighted just some of the issues that people are facing today, including depression, anxiety, drug abuse, eating disorders, and living in households with domestic violence.
TW: Please note that this article talks about suicide, substance abuse, eating disorders, and abuse. If this is sensitive information that can negatively impact your mental health, please abstain from reading. If needed I have included phone numbers for those who are seeking help.
Depression and Anxiety
A worldwide study has shown that the rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal feelings have gone up from the start of COVID-19, and especially during lockdowns. This was mostly present in adolescents, people with pre-existing conditions, and individuals with higher risks of getting Coronavirus, but it applies to everyone. For example, in the United States, the percent of adults that reported symptoms of depression went from 8.5 percent to 27.8 percent.
Like mentioned before, teenagers are the generation that have been hit especially hard with this, with over 75 percent struggling with these issues. What is even more alarming is an interview done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, asking youth if they had thought about suicide in the past month. 1 in 4 said yes.
She suffered from depression and was wrestling with suicidal thoughts. She called a local crisis center but they only had 16 psychiatric beds for teens and all were full. She was put on a waiting list.
The reason for these staggeringly high numbers is because of the effect Coronavirus has had on our wellbeing. Many people struggle to deal with the anxiety of the unknown future, being stuck inside, and even the feeling of sadness which can develop over time. With so many people dealing with these issues, resources used for help have gone down.
Substance Abuse
Numerous countries around the world have reported that the level of substance abuse has risen during COVID-19. In the U.S for example, a statistic from June 2020 showed that alcohol sales had risen by 27%. It also highlighted the significant increase in non-prescribed drug use, as well as an 18% rise in suspected overdoses.
In Canada, over 20% of legal drinkers said they drank more alcohol during the pandemic.
Plus, there was also a surge in cannabis and opioid use. These high numbers have been linked to anxiety, depression, and just overall worry about the world in which we live in.
Eating Disorders
People of all ages deal with eating disorders, and many have come forth about their struggles during the pandemic. With adults losing their jobs, and kids moving to online learning, we have spent countless days at home. Unfortunately, for some people, there are many triggers there that can push them towards falling back into bad habits. Dr. April Elliott, a Calgary pediatrician, commented that during Coronavirus there has been a 155 percent spike in cases of eating disorders. Furthermore, numerous people deal with these issues without seeking help, mostly because they do not know where to go amongst everything that is going on in today’s world.
With the isolation…eating disorders really are taking hold and people are needing support more than ever.
Domestic Violence
Domestic violence during a pandemic can stem from a variety of different things. These factors include economic stress, increased exposure to abusive relationships, and reduced options for support. Because of the social isolation measures all around the world, people have been restricted to their own homes. For some, this means spending more time in volatile situations, and less support from the outside world. In many countries, there has been an increase of 5 percent of abuse reports.
Google reported a 75% increase in Internet searches relating to support for domestic abuse.
In conclusion, while it is important that we stay physically safe and follow all guidelines to reduce the spread of COVID-19, we must also not forget to take care of our mental health and wellbeing in these challenging times.
Phone Numbers
Canada Suicide Hotline: 833-456-4566
Alberta Addiction Hotline: 1-866-332-2322
National Eating Disorder Information Centre: 1-866-NEDIC-20
Pace Community Support Sexual Assault & Trauma : 1 888 377 3223
Emergency: 911
Information sources: 1|2|3|4|5|6
Imagine source: 1