Samantha Swanson: The pandemic’s effect on mental health

We are all too familiar with the catastrophic impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused in terms of deaths, inundated hospitals, and, of course, the economic consequences that have ensued.

As a psychologist working in emergency departments across the greater Sacramento area, it became normal to see patients lining hallways or waiting outside of the hospital for hours, as lobbies stay packed with sick, anxious people. The more insidious impact, though, has started to present itself and is becoming more salient by the day. A mentor of mine said just a few months after our world came to a halt with news of COVID-19: “The mental health pandemic that follows will far outlast the COVID-19 pandemic itself.”

Over the last year it has become apparent that his prediction will likely prove correct.

Those working in the mental health field have seen a significant increase in people suffering from depression, anxiety, grief, and trauma related to the pandemic. Private practices, outpatient clinics, and psychiatric hospitals were suddenly in over their heads with people in crisis, desperate for mental health treatment. The most notable change, though, has been the rise in children and adolescents experiencing either new or exacerbated mental health challenges since the pandemic began. The explanation for this is multifaceted and will likely become more complex over time.

As the pandemic has unfolded, I have seen children and adolescents presenting to emergency departments in droves, complaining of increased depression, anxiety and suicidality. Many of these individuals, especially teenagers, have complained of significant challenges in school due to new online or combined formats, constantly changing rules and standards, and the unknown of what lies ahead. Other challenges have involved minors being stuck at home, sometimes in unstable or even dangerous environments, struggling with the loss of socialization and connection with peers, or the increased contact with challenging family members.

Engagement in sports and many other extracurricular activities also came to a halt with many losing the opportunity for scholarships, leadership roles, or championships they worked years for. Often the only contact they’ve had with friends has been through social media, a vessel that has already proven to be toxic at times, and has correlated with increased self-esteem issues and suicidality amongst adolescents.

In addition to psychosocial issues, many hospitals and outpatient clinics have seen a rise in the presentation of psychotic symptoms in children and adolescents. While this may not correlate with an actual rise in organic psychotic disorders, it does indicate potential problems with distress tolerance, behavioral regulation, or changes in cognitive functioning. Another observation in the midst of the pandemic has been a noticeable increase in the presentation of OCD-related symptoms in minors.

Themes of contamination fears, loss of control, and agoraphobia are just a few of the complaints that have become prevalent. Though, of all the anxious fears I have heard from our youth over the last year and a half, the most frequent theme has been the fear of the unknown. While this is common to the human experience, the uncertainty and unpredictability of this pandemic has harshly placed this fear in the forefront of many young minds.

As we have seen the insidious rise of children and adolescents in distress over the last year, one can’t help but wonder what lies ahead for our youth. The brains of children and adolescents are in critical periods of development as they continue to face these unprecedented times. Many have experienced the loss of one or more friends or family members to COVID-19. Many are in families facing financial insecurity, some being pushed into poverty. How will these issues impact the neuropsychological functioning of our children over time? What can we do now to mitigate any potential consequences? Awareness if often the first step to creating meaningful change.

As parents, teachers, counselors, or anyone working with minors, it is important that we recognize the mental health consequences of this pandemic and address them directly. We can start by engaging in our own self-care, as we cannot pour from an empty glass, and have a responsibility to model to our youth how to care for oneself in times of distress.

Talk openly with our youth about the global issues at hand, how they impact our well-being, and how we can effectively cope and plan ahead. Look into the mental health resources in your community, and remember that no problem is too small to seek help for. If my mentor was right (and it sure looks like he was) then we have to prepare for what is to come. We owe it to our youth to help them navigate these challenges and attend to their mental health. We must collectively show them that we are all in this together.

Dr. Samantha Swanson is a psychologist. This column was provided by Sapience Practice, which provides behavioral health and forensic psychological services in Reno, Carson City and rural Nevada. For information, visit https://sapiencepractice.com/