The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted countless teens across the country. Strict lockdown procedures, excessive worry about the health of themselves and their loved ones, and the impacts of social distancing and remote learning are challenges teenagers face during this difficult period. Attempts to cope with stress can lead some teens to develop addiction and mental health challenges.
While researchers have looked into the worsening of mental health concerns during the height of the pandemic, the long-term consequences of these sudden changes remain unknown. Thankfully, there are several strategies you can use to help your child thrive into their adulthood despite the pandemic.
The Mental Health Effects of COVID-19 on Teens
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show an alarming picture of how adolescents’ mental health was affected during the lockdown.1 A recent report showed that in 2021:
- 37% of high school students reported poor mental health during the pandemic
- 44% reported feeling sad or hopeless in the past year
- 55% reported experiencing emotional abuse by an adult at home
- 11% reported physical abuse
- 29% reported a parent losing a job
These rates were even higher for LGBTQ youth as well as for Asian and Black students.
Concerning substance use, research has shown mixed findings. Some studies have found that substance use among teens decreased during the pandemic, while others have shown a slight increase.2
The current consensus on the data is that teenagers who engaged in drug or alcohol use before the pandemic increased their use during the lockdown, likely due to the increase in mental health concerns. Teenagers who hadn’t initiated substance use were less likely to start, possibly because the lack of social interaction limited their access to substances.
Lingering Mental Health Issues
It’s clear why so many teenagers struggle during the pandemic. Adults have faced many of the same challenges and know all too well that adolescents can often experience a greater emotional shift due to sudden changes.
But many assume these issues should have been resolved once experts removed strict lockdown measures. After all, adolescents today are doing in-person schooling, can visit friends and family, and are mostly living their lives in the same way they did before the pandemic.
Unfortunately, many of the mental health concerns experienced by teenagers continue to have lingering effects. Why is this the case?
The Self-Reinforcing Nature of Mental Illness
Many common mental health challenges can lead to a self-reinforcing pattern of behavior. Teenagers who developed a depressive disorder during the pandemic, for instance, may have experienced symptoms like:
- Lack of motivation
- Sleep disruption
- Lack of interest in hobbies or activities
- Difficulty focusing or concentrating
These feelings can change a teenager’s behavior, which quickly becomes a negative feedback loop. They may no longer be interested in playing sports, could begin to struggle in their academics, and might lack the motivation to start engaging in these healthy behaviors again.
This is a common cycle of depression that’s often difficult for people who’ve never experienced it to understand. It’s common for people with depression and other mental health conditions to hear well-intentioned advice, such as “Why don’t you start exercising?” or “You should go outside and enjoy the sunshine,” but the nature of these disorders makes these tasks seem impossible.
The Downward Spiral of Addiction
Addiction has the same self-destructive pattern but often to an even greater degree. Teenagers who increased their substance use during the COVID-19 pandemic may be at much higher risk of developing a substance use disorder, particularly if they were using substances to cope with growing mental health problems.
Decades of research show that turning to substance use in an attempt to cope with emotional or mental stress can result in the development of a substance use disorder.3 Addiction and mental health are closely intertwined and can quickly become a harmful downward spiral.
How to Help Teenagers After the Pandemic
Helping teenagers with addiction and mental health after the COVID-19 pandemic depends largely on their unique circumstances. Teenagers experiencing a full-blown mental health disorder or struggling with addiction likely need targeted mental health services to help them break free.
In contrast, many teens face significant mental health challenges but may not have crossed the line into mental illness. These teenagers can benefit from mental health support strategies on the part of their families and loved ones to ensure that their problems don’t continue to develop over time.
Addiction and Mental Health Treatment
For teenagers who are experiencing significant mental distress, finding professional treatment is often the best way to help them overcome their challenges and achieve recovery. At Clear Life Recovery’s dual-diagnosis rehab in California, we’ve developed a targeted adolescent program that can do just that.
Treating addiction and mental health concerns in teenagers takes a concerted effort on the part of the teenagers, their loved ones, and a team of mental health professionals. Using the best evidence-based treatments and therapies, any teenager can overcome their challenges and live stronger, healthier lives in recovery.
Clear Life Recovery’s young adult rehab program provides specialized support to people experiencing an addiction and mental health crisis. This occurs across several distinct stages, each focusing on a different aspect of the recovery process.
Medical Detox
Medical detox helps young adults overcome the physical aspects of drug or alcohol addiction. When people use addictive substances, such as heroin, alcohol, or cocaine, they develop a physical dependence on the drug. When they suddenly stop substance use, they can experience a host of withdrawal symptoms, including:
- Restlessness
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Shakes
- Hot and cold flashes
- Nausea
- Intense drug cravings
Professionals can significantly reduce many of these symptoms through targeted medical interventions. Our team conducts a careful assessment and diagnosis at our medical detox, then administers medications to alleviate the effects of physical withdrawal.
This process typically takes one to two weeks, after which people will transfer to a treatment facility to help them learn the skills of recovery that last a lifetime.
Residential Treatment
A residential treatment center is where people can learn the root cause of their addiction and mental health challenges and strive toward achieving recovery. For people experiencing mental illness without a co-occurring substance use disorder, this is often the first step of their treatment process since physical withdrawals are not an issue.
During residential treatment, clients live on-site at a treatment facility that focuses on helping them overcome their challenges. This includes several evidence-based treatment methods, including:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Group therapy
- Relapse prevention programs
- Life skills training
- Motivational interviewing
- Nutrition therapy
Clients can focus their entire energy on the work of overcoming their mental health and addiction challenges in residential treatment. They receive various treatments throughout the day and live with peers who are going through similar challenges.
Outpatient Treatment
Outpatient treatment provides several of the same treatments as a residential program but does so without requiring clients to live on-site at the treatment facility. This makes it an excellent choice for people who can’t take the time away from other responsibilities or are stepping down from a residential treatment program.
For people with milder mental health challenges, outpatient treatment is often the first step of the recovery process. They don’t need the intensive programming at a residential facility and are often more comfortable living in their own homes and communities.
Mental Health Support
Of course, not every teenager who has struggled with mental health challenges during the pandemic requires intensive treatment at a mental health facility. Providing a loving base of support and reassurance can go a long way in preventing new problems from developing into disorders. A compassionate response can make a remarkable impact on a teenager’s life.
Here are some of the best things you can do for a teenager who is struggling with their mental health:
Practice Empathetic Listening
Empathy can go a long way toward providing a sense of relief for teenagers who are struggling. When your teenager shares information about a mental health challenge, stay present, acknowledge their feelings, and try to understand their position.
Normalize Talking About Mental Health Issues
Mental health challenges are a normal part of everyday life. Don’t punish your teenager for expressing their challenges; remind them that it’s okay to talk about their experience.
Take Stock of Your Own Challenges
Often, a parent’s struggles with mental health can impact their children. If you are struggling with substance use or a mental health disorder, consider getting treatment for yourself. This can help your relationship with your child and set a good example for healthy help-seeking behavior.
Know When to Reach for Help with Addiction and Mental Health
If mental health or substance use problems are getting out of control, don’t hesitate to seek professional help. Clear Life Recovery’s dual-diagnosis rehab in California can provide targeted support to young adults in need. Contact us today to learn more.
Sources
[1] https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/p0331-youth-mental-health-covid-19.html
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8445753/
[3] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272735805000759
