COVID Lockdowns’ Mental Health Impact on Youth
- The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges,and its impact on adolescent mental health is a growing concern.
- Lena, a 21-year-old student in southern Germany, hesitates to recall the lockdown restrictions.
- Everyone was just glued to their phones." The shift from playing volleyball to "binge-watch series" became the norm.
The Unseen Toll: COVID-19’s Impact on Adolescent Mental Health
Table of Contents
- The Unseen Toll: COVID-19’s Impact on Adolescent Mental Health
- Q&A: The Unseen Toll – COVID-19’s Impact on Adolescent Mental health
Published: 2025-03-10
The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges,and its impact on adolescent mental health is a growing concern. Lockdowns, school closures, and social isolation have left a lasting mark on young minds. This article explores the psychological consequences experienced by adolescents during and after the pandemic.
A Generation’s Lost Years
Lena, a 21-year-old student in southern Germany, hesitates to recall the lockdown restrictions. The memory of closed schools and restricted social interactions is painful for her and many others her age. Once aspiring to be a teacher, Lena’s passion for school diminished during the pandemic.
“It totally stole our lives,” Lena said. “We couldn’t see our friends anymore. Everyone was just glued to their phones.” The shift from playing volleyball to “binge-watch series” became the norm.
Online teaching, while intended to bridge the gap, added to the stress. “Besides, school isn’t just about learning. Nobody cared about us! We were entirely lost!” Lena recalls.
While Lena has moved forward, she observes changes in her peers, describing some as “weird or cringe.”
The Rise of Isolation and Helplessness
Lena’s experience reflects a broader trend among young adults during the COVID-19 shutdowns. Long-term studies highlight the widespread feelings of isolation, loneliness, and helplessness.
Sabine Andresen, an expert in youth studies, notes that many young people felt ignored. “‘We are not seen, we are not heard. Our interests, rights, and needs are given lower priority in difficult decisions,'” Andresen explained, highlighting the frustration felt by many adolescents.
Andresen further elaborated on the sense of being “ejected from everyday life, without knowing, ‘What is being taken from me? How can I shape my future?’ Young people care about their future plans, too.”
Mental Health Crisis: Anxiety, Depression, and Cognitive Decline
A study on Slovakian adolescents, led by anthropologist Darina Falbová at Comenius University in Bratislava, revealed the long-term mental health consequences of lockdowns. The research indicated that “school closures, contact restrictions, and curfews significantly contributed to the rise in psychological problems among young people.”
The study identified common long-term symptoms, including “memory weakness, concentration problems, difficulties solving problems, and finding the right words.” These cognitive difficulties were more prevalent in women, who also reported “physical symptoms such as reduced physical performance and headaches.”
Five years after the lockdowns,studies continue to show that many adolescents grapple with eating disorders,anxiety,and depression.
Lifestyle changes during lockdowns, such as increased screen time, reduced physical activity, and sleep disorders, further impacted mental and physical well-being.Women also reported menstrual irregularities, potentially linked to stress and hormonal changes post-COVID-19.
Exacerbating existing Vulnerabilities
Even before 2020, teenagers and young adults faced psychological challenges.Academic pressure, social media, climate anxiety, and economic uncertainty contributed to rising rates of depression and anxiety. The pandemic intensified these existing conditions and introduced new mental health symptoms.
Studies confirmed a significant increase in anxiety, depression, and cognitive difficulties among young people during and after the pandemic.
Falbová points out that young people’s concerns were often overlooked because they were considered to have a “lower risk of severe COVID illness, while the broader impacts on their mental health, education, and long-term development were overlooked.”