The past years have been a roller coaster ride for teens around the world. The pandemic outbreak and subsequent lockdowns have dramatically changed our lives. One of the most significant consequences of the lockdown was its impact on teen mental health. The lockdowns had profound effects on teen brains, causing a variety of emotional, cognitive, and behavioural changes. Faced with closed schools and universities, restricted social activities, and an uncertain future, teens find it difficult to cope with the stress and anxiety of the situation. This uncertainty led to mental health problems among the teenagers.

Research has shown a significant increase in mental health problems among teens during the pandemic, with depression, anxiety, and loneliness becoming more common. Research shows that the ageing process of teens has accelerated for these reasons. In this article, we will examine how the lockdown has affected teen mental health.

Overview of lockdown and its effects on teenagers

By October 2023, more than 50 countries have imposed a lockdown to control the pandemic. The lockdown includes isolating infected people, quarantining areas where the infection is widespread, and closing educational institutions. As the pandemic has spread to all parts of the world, teens in all parts of the world have been affected by the lockdown. While some teens were home-schooled, many were significantly affected by the lockdown. The most significant consequence of the lockdown was the disruption of normal social interactions. Daily activities such as going to school, hanging out with friends, and meeting new people were drastically curtailed. With educational institutions closed, teens had much less contact with peers and spent more time at home. Given that teenagers are particularly sensitive to changes in their environment, changes such as these can be extremely disruptive to their social, emotional and cognitive well-being.

Mental health issues among teenagers during the pandemic

Teens have always been prone to mental health issues, but the pandemic has exposed an alarming increase in the number of mental health issues among adolescents. A new study from Stanford University suggests that pandemic-related stressors have physically altered adolescents’ brains, making their brain structures appear several years older than the brains of comparable peers before the pandemic. What’s more, studies show that Adolescents in different parts of the world are affected in unique and nuanced ways, including compromised physical, psychological, and emotional well-being in the face of social and economic problems. In Kenya, for example, most schools grapple with how to support the growing numbers of pregnant teenage girls, teenage fathers, and students addicted to alcohol and drugs. In Turkey, official statistics indicate record-high youth unemployment, and as a result, more and more youth are reporting that they are hopeless for the post-pandemic period.

Changes in the brain caused by lockdown

In order to understand how the lockdown has affected the brains of adolescents, it is essential to understand the changes that come with growing up. As we age, our brains naturally change, according to Gotlib. Both the hippocampus and the amygdala, regions of the brain that, respectively, control access to particular memories and aid in emotion regulation, experience substantial growth in children’s bodies between puberty and the early teenage years. Tissues in the cortex, a region important for executive function, thin at the same time.

Gotlib’s work demonstrated that this developmental process accelerated in teenagers when they experienced the COVID-19 lockdowns by comparing MRI scans from a cohort of 163 kids taken before and during the epidemic. According to him, up until now, these kinds of fast changes in “brain age” have only been seen in kids who have grown up in homes that have been violent, neglected, dysfunctional, or a combination of these things.

It’s not obvious whether the changes in brain structure that the Stanford scientists found are linked to changes in mental health, Gotlib said, even though such events are associated with poor mental health outcomes later in life.

Strategies for managing mental health

Given that the lockdown has had a significant impact on the mental health of adolescents, it is essential to adopt strategies for managing mental health during this period. There are a number of strategies that can be adopted in order to mitigate the psychological effects of lockdown. First and foremost, it is essential to remain socially active, even in the face of significant changes in circumstances. Given that social isolation is a significant risk factor for mental health issues, it is important to remain socially active. Establishing and maintaining contact with peers, and engaging in social activities can help mitigate the psychological effects of the pandemic. It is essential to practise good self-care and to find ways of dealing with the significant stress and anxiety associated with this period.

It is important to find ways of managing stress, particularly in the hours before going to bed. It is essential to reduce the amount of time spent on digital devices, and to engage in activities that promote cognitive and emotional wellbeing. Given that cognitive changes are a significant risk factor for mental health issues, it is important to engage in activities that promote cognitive function. Engaging in challenging puzzles, completing creative tasks, and engaging in physical exercise are all strategies for maintaining cognitive function during the lockdown.

Conclusion

The last years have seen the implementation of a number of dramatic changes in our lives. The pandemic has brought about a lockdown of infected areas, and schools and universities have been closed. The lockdown has had a profound impact on the mental health of teenagers, causing significant changes in their brains and daily habits. The most significant consequence of the lockdown has been the interruption of normal social interactions, and the significant reduction in face-to-face interaction between peers. The pandemic has caused significant changes in the development of the brain, and has caused significant deficits in cognitive function among adolescents. It is essential to adopt strategies for managing mental health, and to adopt strategies for maintaining cognitive function. MindBank Ai is a great application to help you to manage your mental health by self-awareness and self-care. Download MindBank Ai and grow through self-reflection.