The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has wreaked havoc worldwide, has had a severe impact on the mental health of young people with high levels of clinical depression being identified, a new study suggested.
The results of the study were published in the journal ‘Psychiatry Research’.
In addition to the reported high levels of clinical depression, a decrease in alcohol consumption was identified among young people during the pandemic.
During this unique study, researchers at the University of Surrey surveyed 259 pre-pandemic youth (fall 2019) and amid initial blocking measures (May / June 2020) on their levels of depression, anxiety, well-being, use of alcohol and quality sleep.
The researchers found evidence of a substantial impact on the mental health of these young adults due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a significant increase in symptoms of depression and a reduction in general well-being during the blockade compared to the previous fall.
The levels of clinical depression in those surveyed more than doubled, from 14.9 percent in the fall of 2019 to 34.7 percent in May / June 2020.
The quality of sleep did not decrease in the general sample, but, more importantly, a correlation was observed between the increase in depression and the decrease in the quality of sleep under block. Also worrying, the researchers identified a significant shift towards ‘night’ (a preference to go to sleep and wake up later), which was previously associated with higher levels of anxiety and a higher prevalence of minor psychiatric disorders.
Interestingly, despite reports of an increase in global alcohol sales during the first block, the researchers identified a significant decrease in alcohol consumption among the group that can be attributed to the social restrictions in force during this period. The researchers were encouraged by this finding, as it suggests that young people did not use alcohol as a coping strategy during this period.
The results of this study highlighted the substantial impact of the pandemic on young people’s mental health. The link to sleep quality can help inform strategies to support your well-being as the situation in COVID-19 continues to evolve.
Dr. Simon Evans, professor of neuroscience at the University of Surrey, said: “For many years, there has been an increase in the number of young people with mental health problems, and it is worrying to find that this has been significantly exacerbated due to Covid-19. “
“Supporting young people’s mental health and ensuring that they have access to the support they need is vital to ensuring their overall well-being. As social restrictions continue to respond to the pandemic, it is crucial that we take steps to protect your mental health, ”concluded Dr. Evans.
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