Going Behind the Scenes: Depression on the Rise During COVID-19
COVID-19 is an illness caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2 which is transmitted from person to person in the form of respiratory droplets from coughing, sneezing, and even talking.
This virus originated from the city of Wuhan, China back in November of 2019 and gradually made its way up from simply being an epidemic to a pandemic. It wasn’t until February of 2020 when this disease outbreak eventually made its way to the U.S. with its very first confirmed case. As of July 2020, there have been over 3.48 million cases with more than 138,000 deaths across the nation.
As a result of this outbreak taking a tight grasp upon the country, numerous individuals have been left in a worrisome state and left asking themselves, “Will this virus ever fully go away and when?” However, people may not realize that another variable has also taken a greater hold among adolescents due to COVID-19, depression.
Why has depression increased among adolescents during COVID-19?
Before COVID 19, approximately 6 percent, or less than one of ten adolescents from the ages of 12 to 17 had been identified to have been dealing with the feelings of depression according to the National Survey of Children’s Health from 2016–2018. This percentage has, however, dramatically increased since the occurrence of COVID-19.
Around mid-march when COVID-19 had begun planting its roots all across the nation, many adolescents were forced to stay home from school, with many social activities such as prom and get-togethers among friends getting canceled temporarily.
Adolescents have been confined within their homes for a rather prolonged period. As a result, they have been deprived of social interaction which is crucial to them at this age of their life as it aids in the development of social, emotional, and cognitive skills as well as daily functioning. Because of this, feelings of loneliness have risen among adolescents.
According to the survey conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of the National 4-H Council on May 7, 2020, 61 percent of the 1,500 teens surveyed had claimed to feel an increase in loneliness. It is this loneliness, according to psychologists, which elicits emotional discomfort and frustration due to the need for connection and belonging with others that gradually build within an adolescent, leading to common symptoms of depression.
Common symptoms of depression among adolescents include lack of motivation in most or all normal activities, anxiety, irritability, lack of energy, and even suicidal thoughts. This social deprivation enhanced from the lengthy quarantine of COVID-19 has also hit adolescents quite hard due to internal chemical changes that are occurring within them at their particular age.
According to writer Christine L. Carter, “Teenagers and college students have amplified innate, developmental motivations that make them hard to isolate at home. The hormonal changes that come with puberty conspire with adolescent social dynamics to make them highly attuned to social status and peer group.”
How can adolescents prevent feelings and symptoms of depression?
While quarantine may seem like a heavyweight put upon your mind and body, there are many ways you can help your mental and physical health remain in good condition.
- Try to engage yourself in more physical activities whether it be jogging, running, dancing, yoga, etc — In 2006, after reviewing a total of 11 studies that investigated the correlation of exercise and mental health, Michael Otto, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at Boston University, and his colleagues had determined that exercise had imposed a great interposition on clinical depression by reducing its symptoms. Based on the findings from the meta-analysis, it has also been concluded that exercise may, potentially, pose and should consider being utilized as a treatment plan towards those suffering from depression.
- Stay connected with others to which you trust, such as family and friends, to address your emotions and state of mind too — By staying connected to those you’re comfortable with, you become more resilient and hardy which, in return, makes you more capable of weathering those emotional waves you might be experiencing.
- Participate in activities and hobbies you tend to enjoy — Research has shown that individuals who contribute some time to their very own hobbies have been less prone to feelings of depression, low moods, and stress as they keep your mind in focus and a calm mental state.
- Avoid continuously listening/reading news upon COVID-19 if it brings emotional distress and discomfort to you.
- If you still feel emotionally overwhelmed and unable to calm down, seek guidance and aid from mental health professionals as soon as possible — Here are a few websites for hotlines to contact if you need urgent emotional support
- https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help-now/
- https://www.childhelp.org/
- https://teenlineonline.org/talk-now/
- http://www.thursdayschild.org/
- http://www.spsamerica.org/
- https://www.hopeline-nc.org/
- http://www.dbsalliance.org/
- http://www.crisistextline.org/
How can we give back to our community at this time?
One way you can give back to your community is to donate your time to local shelters, especially by providing a lending hand to your local teen homeless shelter. Set up a casual, socially-distanced version of a fun team bonding activity or help the shelter remotely from home with coordinating and any outreach that they may need help with.
Small actions lead to great change.
Sources
Geographic Differences in COVID-19 Cases, Deaths, and Incidence … (2020, April 16). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6915e4.htm#:%7E:text=Community%20transmission%20of%20COVID%2D,of%20COVID%2D19.
Wikipedia contributors. (2020, July 17). Coronavirus disease 2019. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronavirus_disease_2019
The Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health and Substance Use. (2020, April 21). KFF. https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/issue-brief/the-implications-of-covid-19-for-mental-health-and-substance-use/
Poll: Here’s COVID-19 Toll on Americans’ Mental Health | Hartford HealthCare. (2020, April 24). Hartford HealthCare. https://hartfordhealthcare.org/about-us/news-press/news-detail?articleid=25741&publicId=395
Chicago Health. (2020, May 1). How COVID-19 Impacts Teens’ Mental Health. https://chicagohealthonline.com/how-covid-19-impacts-teens-mental-health/
Null, C. (2020, April 3). The Reality of Covid-19 Is Hitting Teens Especially Hard. Wired. https://www.wired.com/story/covid-19-is-hitting-teens-especially-hard/
New Survey Finds 7 in 10 Teens Are Struggling with Mental Health. (2020, June 16). 4-H. https://4-h.org/media/new-survey-finds-7-in-10-teens-are-struggling-with-mental-health/
Office of Adolescent Health. (2018, July 29). Social Development. HHS.Gov. https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/adolescent-development/explained/social/index.html
Depression (major depressive disorder) — Symptoms and causes. (2018, February 3). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20356007
P. (2020, June 22). Is COVID-19 Affecting Your Teen’s Mental Health? Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/is-covid-19-affecting-your-teens-mental-health/
Pardon Our Interruption. (n.d.). American Psychological Association. Retrieved July 17, 2020, from https://www.apa.org/monitor/2011/12/exercise
Error — Cookies Turned Off. (n.d.). Wiley Online Library. Retrieved July 17, 2020, from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/action/cookieAbsent
Oberts, K. (2020, January 23). Five Ways to Stay Connected to Help With Depression. Brightside. https://www.brightside.com/five-ways-to-stay-connected-to-help-with-depression/
Purposeful activity — Hobbies. (n.d.). Head to Health. Retrieved July 17, 2020, from https://headtohealth.gov.au/meaningful-life/purposeful-activity/hobbies#:%7E:text=Spending%20time%20on%20an%20activity,feel%20happier%20and%20more%20relaxed.
Teen Health and Wellness. (n.d.). Teen Health and Wellness. Retrieved July 17, 2020, from https://teenhealthandwellness.com/static/hotlines#Depression
Anxiety and Depression in Children | CDC. (2020, April 14). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/depression.html
Interested in learning more about Linens N Love? Visit LinensNLove.org or follow us on Instagram @LinensNLove to stay connected with the Linens N Love community!
Edited by: Mehek Bhargava, Director of Research Bloggers
