ANXIOUS ADOLESCENTS
The pandemic has isolated many children from their friends and extended families — and appears to be leading to a rise in mental health problems. In one recent survey, almost 80 percent of adolescent girls reported feeling more lonely since the pandemic began. “It’s not just the fear of missing out, it’s the actual missing out,” one expert told The Wall Street Journal.
What can parents do to help?
- Limit screen time. Many girls are spending more time talking to friends on social media, while boys are turning to video games. Both can deepen loneliness. Vivek Murthy, the former U.S. surgeon general, suggests phone or video calls instead.
- Seek help. The pandemic has made it harder for many adolescents to receive mental health treatment. Online services can fill the gap.
A listening recommendation: On the “Teenager Therapy” podcast, five California high schoolers talk mental health, family and regaining a semblance of normalcy during lockdown.
Source: The New York Times: The Morning, email. Thursday Morning: Europe's Big Problem, 30 July 2020.
