Adolescent Mental Health Priorities During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Increasing evidence has shown that the Covid-19 outbreak has impacted adolescents’ mental health. Utilising a mixed-method design, the current study examined a total of 518 adolescent perspectives (60% female), in Scotland, on what has and could help their mental health in the context of Covid-19. A reflexive thematic analysis revealed three themes in relation to what has helped adolescents’ mental health since the Covid-19 outbreak. These related to findings about the value of: (1) engaging in recreational activities, (2) engaging with friends, and (3) the disruption to schooling. The remaining four themes related to what could have helped adolescents mental health and wellbeing since the Covid-19 outbreak. These focussed on (1) better support: in relation to mental health; school work; and communication, (2) contact with friends, and (3) more opportunities for recreational activities. Males were more likely to report recreational activities had helped and less likely to report better support could have helped. Adolescents who reached clinical threshold for depression and anxiety and those with elevated PTSD-like symptoms about Covid-19 were more likely to state more support could have helped, and adolescents who reached clinical threshold for depression were less likely to report that friends could have helped their mental health. The findings may inform mental health policy and interventions in the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Risk and resilience correlates of reading among adolescents with language-based learning disabilities during COVID-19

“…Similarly, increased concern about the threat of COVID-19 was associated with higher incidence of anxiety, depression, and somatic symptoms among Chinese college students . Our findings are also consistent with studies that have reported increased prevalence of PTSD risk within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic (Sayed et al, 2021), and relationships between PTSD symptomology and anxiety and depression (Stewart et al, 2022).…”

The impact of COVID-19 on young people’s mental health, wellbeing and routine from a European perspective: A co-produced qualitative systematic review

“…Fifty unique publications were subjected to quality assessment using the MMAT tool [ 39 , 40 , 44 – 54 , 56 , 59 , 61 , 62 , 64 – 73 , 75 – 79 , 82 , 83 , 85 – 87 , 89 , 90 , 92 – 94 , 97 , 99 – 102 , 104 , 109 , 110 ] ( S2 Table ). Forty-three studies met 100% of MMAT criteria; [ 39 , 40 , 44 , 48 – 54 , 56 , 59 , 62 , 64 – 70 , 72 , 73 , 75 – 79 , 82 , 83 , 85 , 87 , 89 , 90 , 92 – 94 , 97 , 99 – 102 , 109 , ...…”

School Nurse Experiences and Changes to Practice During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…In response to all forms of trauma, trauma responses may be consistent with positive coping strategies (e.g., seeking social support or increased volunteerism) or may be harmful and include emotional dysregulation, somatic symptoms, difficulty sleeping, flashbacks, dissociation, anger, aggression, and among others ( Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 2014 ). This is especially concerning in light of the findings of Tanner & Merkle (2022) regarding PTSD, suicidal ideation, and other mental illness observed in a national sample of school nurses during the pandemic.…”

“…Further, school nurses risked their own safety, addressed frequent changes to health guidelines, and led arduous contact tracing efforts, all while meeting the usual care needs of students, staff, and families ( Bergren, 2021 ; Dobbins, 2020 ; Duffort, 2021 ; Robles, 2022 ; Rogelberg, 2021 ). From a recent study of over 7,000 school nurses, researchers determined school nurses experienced PTSD (30%) depression (24%), anxiety (22%), and suicidal ideation (4%) as a result of pandemic work ( Tanner & Merkle, 2022 ). Across nursing specialties, turnover increased significantly from work overload, burnout, poor mental health, job dissatisfaction, and other stressors exacerbated by pandemic working conditions ( Falatah, 2021 ; Lopez et al, 2022 ).…”