Impact of Lockdown on Teens
This last year has been especially challenging for young people in the UK, with 67% of teenagers believing that the pandemic will have a long-term negative impact on their mental-health (1).
The prospect of easing restrictions is bringing hope to many, but this raises its own set of worries for thousands across the country, reminding us that returning to normal may be a difficult process.
For many, going back to school brings a piece of normality and signals the end of tough restrictions, but without the presence of increased support, we risk a worsening of mental health concerns. Only 27% of teens have had a one-to-one conversation with a teacher or another member of staff in which their wellbeing was discussed (1), more needs to be done to ensure no one slips through the gaps and struggles alone. Reasons for a rise in feelings such as anxiety and low mood include:
● Bereavement
● Loneliness
● Lack of motivation
● Fear that friendships may not recover
● Worries over university places or getting a job in the future
...among many others.
Lockdown and Body Image
Year on year, we tend to see the ‘summer body’ trend pick up pace around March-April time, but this year is especially heightened. You may have read social media posts or seen segments on the news regarding ‘Lockdown weight’ and how to lose it, feeding into the notion that to really enjoy ourselves this summer...we must look a certain way. The unprecedented increase in stress and anxiety, coupled with reduced access to safe spaces to exercise may leave us feeling unhappy about our body image. This is especially poignant for teens who are exposed to social media content that glorifies the ‘summer body’ ideal.
Now more than ever, extending some extra love and kindness to ourselves and those around us can go such a long way. Scrolling for hours through photoshopped influencers and ads for diet products will inevitably make us feel inadequate, which it’s designed to do. This overexposure of ‘perfection’ vs the underexposure of what it actually looks and feels like to be a teen going through the pandemic is alarming, and something has to change. Developing a healthy relationship with food is so important during teenage years, and it’s vital that teens receive positive messaging regarding diet, lifestyle and body image.
Going “back to normal” and anxiety
Throughout the tough lockdown periods, social anxiety may have started or worsened for many
For many of us, the gradual easing of lockdown brings longed-for opportunities; meeting up with family & friends, going shopping, getting back to work, dining out or simply just being able to spend time outdoors. But for many, even these anticipated, good times and readjusting to the “new normal” can be difficult to our mental health.
The easing of tough restrictions may feel overwhelming, but remember to take small steps at a time...
- Celebrate big and small wins! They all add up...
- Take things at your own pace, it's okay to take things slowly & do one thing at a time
- Keep in contact with friends and family & reach out for support if you feel yourself withdrawing
It's important for parents to keep an open conversation with teens regarding the 'new normal' as we come out of lockdown
- Chatting about how being in large groups may feel
- Managing expectations about what day-to-day life might look like
- Creating a routine or talking about plans for the future
We should be prepared for the fact that the end of lockdown might be as hard for us as the start was. Our situations are unique to us - so it’s important we are not being harsh on ourselves based on what the people around us are doing. Approach feelings with kindness and remember that everyone has different coping mechanisms in social settings
Written by: Caitlin O’Nions