As we enter what is hopefully the last part of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are still thousands struggling with this event. One demographic that continues to struggle with the traumatic experience that was the pandemic is high school students. The entire period was one of massive upheaval for so many, with the dynamics of their personal lives changing drastically in the space of a few weeks. Families were trapped at home, loved ones suddenly faced the risk of a deadly infection, and work and school was now often being performed from home. These factors all led to a notable increase in the fear and stress in the lives of children. There’s little surprise the result was lasting trauma.

The Impact of COVID-19 On Youth Mental Health

Nearly 37% of all high school-age students have been found to be struggling with mental health concerns resulting from the stresses of the pandemic. Nearly 45% have reported experiencing feelings of powerlessness, sadness, and hopelessness during the pandemic. Further, nearly 30% of all youth had a caregiver lose their job due to COVID-related factors during this time.

Some additional information about the impact of the pandemic includes the following:

• The LGBTQA community showed a heightened risk of emotional abuse and suicide during this time. This demographic had already experienced higher rates of both. The pandemic only served to increase them.
• Mental health concerns among children 6-17 impacted nearly 18% of the population. However, this number has reached 33% in the aftermath of the pandemic.
• Illness, financial concerns, and losing loved ones resulted in heightened stress levels and depression among adults. This resulted in these additional stresses being transferred onto their children.
• Familial conflict, including arguments, physical and emotional violence, and other forms of abuse, showed notable increases during the pandemic and remains high.
• The impact of the pandemic on the opioid epidemic is rarely heard. However, studies have shown that the pandemic intensified a dangerously common problem.

Being isolated at home is one aspect of the pandemic that had extensive impacts on the mental health of children and adults alike. Social interaction and contact with role models often provide additional opportunities for peers to identify that they are struggling. Friends, counselors, teachers, coaches, and other people in a child’s life help provide a stable support system. The pandemic rendered many of these avenues unavailable, making children struggle emotionally and mentally. Parents working to maintain the financial viability of the household cannot be as aware as an entire network of support.

Prestige Mental Health Helps Overcome Pandemic Trauma

If you or your child is still struggling with the mental and emotional aftermath of the pandemic, it’s time to seek help. This time was truly difficult for everyone involved, and it’s important to take steps to help process the trauma experienced during this time. You can start by calling our clinic at (702) 945-2864 and scheduling an appointment with a team member today. Together we’ll forge a path of healing from the past trauma of the pandemic to a bright future tomorrow.