The study shows that young people are most affected by the effects of the pandemic

Young people are the part of the population hardest hit by the health crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the annual State of the World report, released this week by the non-profit research organization Sapien Labs. In Brazil, the study showed that there are 39% more people aged 18 to 24 reporting mental health disorders than the 55 to 64 age group.

Young people, especially those between the ages of 18 and 24, are five times more likely to report mental health problems than their grandparents’ generation. “There is not a single region, language group or country where the decline in mental well-being in succeeding generations is not evident. This results in a dramatic increase in the percentage of each younger generation suffering from mental disorders or struggling in a level qualification of a clinical nature or requiring professional help”points out the international study.

At the psychologist’s clinic Mariana Azevedomental health and chemical dependency specialist, there has been a significant increase in the provision of services to children and adolescents, which is why training has become necessary to serve this audience. “The novel coronavirus pandemic has increased the number of visits to young people with mental disorders, including depression and anxiety. Furthermore, the lack of social contacts, isolation and uncertainty about the future are among the factors that mostly contribute to the worsening of this situation”points out an expert.

In this search for relief from discomfort and existential anxieties, the psychologist has identified a curious phenomenon among young people, namely the need to symbolize these pains and frustrations in the body through tattoos. “We see this increase in the attempt to relieve discomfort, anguish, discomfort, from the body, through tattoos”exemplifies.

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The pandemic has also brought about significant changes in the way young people relate and interact socially, especially after being deprived of the school environment due to social isolation. “One of the things that marks adolescence is this separation from the family nucleus due to a constitution of the subject. And in this context, the interaction between young people that took place at school has ceased to exist due to restrictions and social isolation”explains.

The need to maintain physical distancing and reduce face-to-face activities have negatively impacted the mental health of young people, who often depend on social contact to feel connected and belong to a group.

The decline in mental well-being among younger generations may also be associated with an increase in drug and alcohol abuse. According to psychologist Mariana Azevedo, this translates into a dramatic increase in the percentage of each younger generation suffering from mental disorders. “With this new landscape, some patients have started accessing and abusing psychiatric drugs. For example, there has been a significant increase in the use of Ritalin”says the psychologist.

The excess of freedom and access to information created a counterpoint between liberal families and others more closed and dogmatic. “What I observe that has happened during the pandemic is that living together with these in these very dogmatic family groups has been so infuriating, literally”says Mariana Azevedo.

In this context, he points out that many young people who were already dealing with mental disorders before the pandemic had their condition exacerbated by lack of access to adequate mental health treatments.

Despite the worrying picture, the psychologist highlights a positive aspect of this pandemic, which has been the decrease in prejudices against therapy and other processes of self-knowledge. “Many people have started to seek therapy for quality of life. And now they can talk about what they feel, about their experiences, without having to ‘admit’ it. They end up relying on this to allow them to talk about something they have caused a malaise, for examplecomplete.

State of the World Report

The study shows how the world is recovering from the pandemic and how family relationships and friendships are deteriorating, with significant consequences for mental well-being.

Each year the report presents the mental state of populations, trends compared to previous years and for the first time the study includes Brazil. The survey gathered 407,959 internet responses from countries on all continents, in nine different languages.

In the Latin American and Caribbean region, for example, while fewer than 15% of people aged 55-64 scored negatively on the index, those aged 18-24 scored greater than 50%. This means that more than half of the young people in these places reported clinical symptoms of mental disorders.

Service

The SARAH Network contributes to the Ministry of Health with regard to actions aimed at dealing with the pandemic and its serious consequences. The hospital offers free rehabilitation treatment for post-Covid-19 patients. Among the main neurological alterations treated are: loss of strength or sensitivity in the upper and lower limbs, alterations in balance and motor coordination, as well as memory impairment.

Rehabilitation programs include neuropsychological and cognitive stimulation and are planned in advance by the site sarah.br.