The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Young Adults: A Psychological Perspective COVID-19 was a massive and global problem. The research opportunities for this event are wildly far reaching and will be a focus for decades to come. The focus of the article I chose illustrate some of the profound impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lives of young adults in the United States. “The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Young Adults: A Psychological Perspective” delves into the personal experiences of individuals like Luis, Angelica, Yasmina, and Leticia as they navigated through unprecedented challenges like health crises, economic instability, destruction of social relationships, all the way to disruptions in education (Klinenberg, 2020). This article is particularly …show more content…
While many other factors, like loss of parent jobs, sickness, and even familial deaths added to the overall mental health issues, the reduction of normalized social structures inherently is a mental health disruptor of greater magnitude in this demographic. In a study conducted among 902 high school students from rural areas in the south-central United States, researchers examined some of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescent mental health, suicide risk, and access to services (Brausch, Whitfield, & Clapham, 2023). Participants were part of a study on self-harm behavior, with data collected both before and after the pandemic began (Brausch, Whitfield, & Clapham, 2023). Researchers conducted a cross-sectional comparison between two samples of rural adolescents with one surveyed before the COVID-19 pandemic and one surveyed after it began (Brausch, Whitfield, & Clapham, 2023). They used self-report measures to assess mental health symptoms, treatment access, and self-harm behaviors in both samples (Brausch, Whitfield, & Clapham,
Though fictional, this novel illustrates the fear surrounding disease, viruses, and contamination and how if uncontrollable, could lead to a global spread that could jeopardize the human race. Traveling internationally, World War Z represents a zombie epidemic that brings forth infection, which can be considered an unconscious actor during this time of confusion and destruction. Scientifically, fear is defined as a natural response found in almost all organisms that revolve around the emotions and feelings induced by perceived threats and danger. Max Brooks illustrates the societal interaction with fear, “Fear of aging, fear of loneliness, fear of poverty, fear of failure. Fear is the most basic emotion we have. Fear is primal. Fear sells. That was my mantra. ‘Fear sells.’” (Brooks 55). The fear of a zombie virus spreading in fact just produces more fear into the mind of the individual. Through research and scientific advancements, fears and anxieties have been proven to put an individual more at risk of developing health issues. How ironic, right? Our fears and anxieties surrounding diseases and the spread of them cause our society to be more susceptible to obtain and contract more health related problems. The fight against the zombie metaphor within World War Z gives the reader a purpose for finding a way to hold
Approximately, five teenagers attempted suicide each day (Haesler 2010 para. 1). The fact makes some group of people (especially the ones who are part of the society) concerned. Somehow, youth suicide will result in an unintentional sign for help (Carr-Gregg 2003, para. 1). Communities related to the victims will be affected mentally and they will feel grief, pain, and loss that are so great that it overcomes the economic ...
Illness. When most people hear that word, they think Cancer, Diabetes, AIDs, Ebola, or the Black Plague. The epitome of a sick person is tired, grey, and laying in bed. Now, imagine an ill person walking down the hall, sitting in class, or eating in the school cafeteria. Is it strange? This is no alternate reality. The term “illness” addresses both the physical and mental condition of a person. 20% of American teens are affected by some type of mental disorder that affects their capability to function (“Mental Health By The Numbers” 1). High schools are constantly searching for ways to improve this percentage, actions ranging from adding counselors to decreasing class size to delaying the bell schedule. One solution, known by many different names but unchanged in concept, is allowing students to take mental health days.
Across the world’s population, mental health has recently become a problem in today’s society. This is especially the case in the Latino/a community. Some of the most commonly identified issues affecting the Latino community are, depression, chemical and substance use, domestic violence, and suicide. On the same note, teenaged Latina high school women have high rates of suicide attempts. This has become a quickly rising issue due to many Latino individuals not seeking help from programs or services that are available for many reasons. One of the main reasons that many individuals not getting assistance, is due to the lack of health insurance.
People constantly overlook the severity of depression, more importantly, major teen depression, which presents a legitimate obstacle in society. The intensity of teen depression results from society’s general lack of acknowledgement of the rising affair. In 2012, “28.5% of teens were depressed” and 15.8% of teens contemplated the option of suicide (Vidourek 1 par. 1), due to their major depression going unnoticed or untreated for. Even teenagers themselves often ignore their depression or remain in denial because neither them nor anyone else recognizes the signs. “A sudden change in behavior is a main sign of someone being depressed, which could lead to having suicidal thoughts,” stated Pam Farkas, a clinical social worker in California (Aguilar 1 par. 8). The warning signs and risk factors of teen depression include behavioral issues, social withdrawal, and inadequate interest in activities (Adolescents and Clinical Depression 2 par. 3), yet the unawareness of these signs does not allow professional medical attention to intercede. Deaths, illnesses, rejection, relationship issues, and disappointment present passages down the negative path of teen depression, but treatments, such as psychotherapy, intervention programs, and antidepressants express ways to subdue this major problem. Knowledge of the increasing dilemma needs to circulate, in order to promote stable teen lives in the present and future world. Understanding major teen depression, the events and incidents that lead to depression, and how to overcome the problem will lead to a decrease in major teen depression and its growing issue in society.
Wong, S., Zhou, B., Goebert, D., & Hishinuma, E. (2013). The risk of adolescent suicide
It is widely recognized that mental illness affects a significant proportion of the population; however, it is complicated to determine exact numbers. This problem can be attributed to such issues as the changing definitions of mental illness as well as difficulties in classifying, diagnosing, and reporting mental disorders. Limitations to adequate mental health services including social stigma, cultural incompatibility between patients and providers, language barriers, lack of insurance and logistical barriers. In addition, significant differences in socioeconomic status, lifestyle behaviors, and access to care have resulted in health disparities between rural and urban communities (Institute of Medicine, 2004). According to Sulzbacher et al., many families who live in rural areas do not have the financial, social or psychological resources, to travel to distant urban centers to obtain adequate care particularly for a chronic mental health problem. There is also evidence to suggest that mental illness in rural areas is as nearly as high as among people in metropolitan areas. However, the accessibility of mental health services and professionals in rural areas is extremely low compared to major cities and metropolitan areas. Such barriers can impede the diagnosing, treating and reporting of mental illnesses and have also been instrumental in developing and improving telepsychiatry and e-mental health models.
As quickly as it came, the pandemic had ebbed away and disappeared from the population. People had regained their strength and were healthy again; the death tolls had declined and cases were manageable. Businesses started up again and work was plentiful, while schools opened up once more though not all of its students returned. Nonetheless, the morbid memories still linger within the survivors that had suffered losses that live long after the virus had disappeared.
Within the study of mental health, socioeconomic status has been used as a major determinant of mental health. Module 3a, discusses the social determinates of mental health. From the studies conducted, household income levels had an effect on the perceived levels of mental health. The lowest levels of incomes had the highest percentage of mental illness. With mental health, stressors are considered to be the factors that contribute to a person’s negative mental health. These stimuli typically provided feelings of distress, feelings of a person about their affective state, or can result in deviance, the perception of others and are a violation of social norms.
In our culture, money, status, and social power all play a part in how individuals think that others perceive them. There is growing evidence that shows the link between socioeconomic status and unhealthy psychological outcomes in mental health. When looking at higher levels of socioeconomic status for youth it shows a more positive and healthy psychological outcome for youth and their mental health. Studies have shown that there are higher rates of attempted suicide, cigarette smoking and engaging in episodic heavy drinking (“Pardon Our Interruption”). Other studies have shown that lower levels of socioeconomic status have been linked to emotional and behavioral difficulties, like anxiety, depression, attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder and conduct disorders (“Pardon Our
More time alone from others means that people will eventually become more distant and rude to others, which negatively impacts their social lives. In an article, Reuben Kindred and Glen Bates say, "The COVID-19 pandemic has led to acute changes in daily routines and lifestyles worldwide, with the social consequences being detrimental to mental health". The article shows that even now that life is starting to get back to normal, people are still experiencing the negative social and mental health issues of the pandemic. A chivalrous attitude should also play a crucial role when at work. For example, if someone thinks
In The Guest, Daru is unexpectedly met with a decision that could severely affect his life. The inevitability of the situation and the magnitude of his choice spirals the theme of the story by creating a tense situation between him and the Arab. This makes Daru’s view of the Arab confusing, his humane side makes him treat the Arab nicely and he is surprised by how he is treated but his past makes Daru worried. Daru is comfortable in his isolation until the end when he finds out that the privilege of choosing a side has gone. The indecisiveness is then passed on to the Arab at the end when he has to make a choice between saving himself from hurt or saving his reputation with the Arab community.
Suicide is the leading cause of death for Asians aged fifteen to twenty-four (Noor-Oshiro). Many Asian Americans suffer in silence from mental health issues and are not taken seriously by others. Mental illness has become an epidemic for many young people, but Asian Americans have been impacted the most. After the recent COVID-19 pandemic, depression diagnoses rose 104%, while anxiety disorders rose 97% among Asian Americans (Chin). Young Asians face racism and discrimination, along with pressure from their families.
Now the eighth-leading cause of death overall in the U.S. and the third-leading cause of death for young people between the ages of 15 and 24 years, suicide has become the subject of much recent focus. U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher, for instance, recently announced his Call to Action to Prevent Suicide, 1999, an initiative intended to increase public awareness, promote intervention strategies, and enhance research. The media, too, has been paying very close attention to the subject of suicide, writing articles and books and running news stories. Suicide among our nation’s youth, a population very vulnerable to self-destructive emotions, has perhaps received the most discussion of late. Maybe this is because teenage suicide seems the most tragic—lives lost before they’ve even started. Yet, while all of this recent focus is good, it’s only the beginning. We cannot continue to lose so many lives unnecessarily.
Today, the numbers of people with mental health issues are considerably high. The problem increases the national and global social and economic burdens as governments try to find means of empowering the people with the issue and solve the problem. Today, one in five adults in the United States has a mental health problem (“Mental Health Facts,” 2016). “Mental Health Facts” (2016) also states that the adults that received mental health services are about 60%. Only 50% of the youth with mental health issues received mental health services in the previous year. Further, mental health issues are also related to drug use and addiction. Of all the mental illnesses and disorders, depression affects the most people and has the biggest burden globally. Due to the increasing burden and the gap in service utilization, the mental health policy seeks to address several factors. Some of the key issues to address include early diagnosis of mental disorders, provision of appropriate and adequate intervention a particular problem, education and counseling for the family members, and research to help reduce the numbers and reverse the trend. Another key area of focus is the use of mass media to create awareness about mental health issues and help clear the