Low mood and depression in young people can be caused by COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted our everyday life. To slow the transmission of the virus, lockdown measures introduced by governments have rapidly changed our way of living and many of us are facing enormous challenges as a result.

As a young person, you may be particularly anxious about your schooling and future, as well as the health and well-being of family and friends. Some will have experienced the loss of a loved one, and many families are experiencing financial difficulties and uncertain futures.

While these drastic measures have focused on preserving the physical health of the population, it’s important to be mindful of the impact these restrictions may also be having on our mental health. Many people — young or old — will find it difficult to cope with life as it currently stands and will experience low mood and depression during this pandemic.

Low mood and depression

It’s entirely normal for many young people, as well as adults, to be experiencing some degree of difficulty in adjusting to these new circumstances, given the magnitude and speed of change with which these have come about. Feeling low or distressed from time to time may be a common difficulty experienced by many at the moment.

When this low feeling persists every day for most of the day for several weeks, it could be a symptom of depression. This may have been present before the pandemic, or may have developed in recent weeks or months.

Clinical depression is a debilitating mental health condition which can affect many aspects of a young person’s life, including school, family and peer relationships, as well as personal interests and activities. If you would like further information about what depression is and the symptoms of depression in young people, please visit YoungMinds website.