The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified what was already a critical issue — teen mental health. The consequences of not addressing adolescent mental health conditions extend to adulthood, according to the World Health Organization, impacting both physical and mental health and limiting opportunities to lead fulfilling adult lives.
Teen mental health: an epidemic during the pandemic
Teen mental health is an ongoing issue, one made worse by the pandemic. Beyond the regular stressors of the teenage years, an estimated 10-20% of adolescents globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), experience mental health conditions. Globally, depression is the fourth leading cause of illness among 15-19-year-olds while anxiety is ninth, the WHO reports. But mental health conditions very often are underdiagnosed and, more significantly, undertreated.
This three part series investigates how COVID-19 has affected teens’ mental health, looks at the stigma surrounding the subject, and offers coping skills to address everyday stressors.
