Photo by Eliott Reyna on Unsplash
This article is about how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected teen mental health from the observation point of a high school senior. Â
I have noticed many teens start to socially isolate from each other and interact more on social media or by playing video games with each other rather than going outside to play. That’s because they are often afraid of catching the virus. This is totally understandable given the fact that the virus has affected so many lives. Unfortunately, this creates a problem because teens are not interacting with each other like they did before. Recently I have seen firsthand how this results in anxiety and depression for many of the students at my local high school.
Lack of social interaction causes poor teen mental health
I’ve watched several teens within my school not join in on activities at the beginning of the year because they don’t want to get the virus. This is extremely hard on students who are shy and introverted in particular. These students may even want to play sports or join in on group activities. However, they are unable to because their parents don’t want them to be exposed to the virus. As a result, they experience anxiety and depression because they feel like they can’t do anything or feel worthless because they can’t be part of a team.Â
So, I am trying to draw attention to the idea that if you see someone by themselves at a lunch table or in a room all alone, go over and talk to them. After all, they could be dealing with something we can’t see. And in the end, all they need is that someone to talk to.
Community Series – Mental Health Book Club: What Happened to You? by Bruce Perry & Oprah Winfrey
          Â
