The impact of COVID-19 on adolescent and elderly mental health

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a widespread impact on the mental health of adults and children. The resurgence of the Delta variant and ongoing mitigation measures, such as continued mask wear and social distancing, are leading to increased levels of social isolation, fear, depression and stress. and anxiety.

Changes in work, school and social routines, fear of contracting or spreading the virus, and the loss of loved ones to the virus have also taken their toll.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of mental health problems was on the rise. According to National Institute of Mental Health, nearly 52 million adults in the United States aged 18 and over suffered from some form of mental illness in 2019.

Today, health experts are seeing an increased need for mental health services in all age groups, from young children to the elderly, although each group faces its own set of challenges and setbacks.

Mental health problems in the elderly
The pandemic has had a significant impact on the physical and mental well-being of adults 65 and older. Even in “normal times”, older people face more social isolation, financial challenges, illness, grief and loss than other age groups, resulting in higher rates of anxiety and depression. higher.

Dr Ardeshir Hashmi MD“The world is shrinking for many older people,” says Dr Ardeshir Hashmi MD, section head for Cleveland Clinic Geriatric Medicine Center. “Many family and friends are dying, and physical changes can make it more difficult to do the activities they once enjoyed. There aren’t many life stages ahead of them, so changing health is a big part of their life and can be very frightening. “

Dr Hashmi says mitigation measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have further exacerbated these mental health issues “We are seeing significant mental health issues in the elderly, primarily related to social isolation, including understood depression and anxiety, and the impact of both on brain health, ”he says.

Social isolation can also increase the risk of cardiovascular, autoimmune, neurological, and other chronic health problems. “It’s sort of two-way,” says Dr. Hashmi, “because the more stressed you are, the more your heart health, brain health, and physical health will deteriorate. “

Social isolation has always been a challenge for the older population, and while the pandemic has made matters worse, it has also drawn more attention to the mental health issues of older people. “It’s always been a pandemic within a pandemic,” says Dr Hashmi. “The COVID-19 pandemic has put this issue firmly in the spotlight and the need to tackle the epidemic of mental health in the elderly. “

Dr Hashmi says the family caregiver can play a vital role in reducing the social isolation of their loved one. “First and foremost, maintain social connectivity with your loved one,” he says. “It can be as simple as a phone call, but the frequency, not the duration, of those calls is the important thing.”

We are seeing significant mental health issues in older adults, primarily related to social isolation.Dr Hashmi advises caregivers to look for other signs of worry. “Depression is sometimes very subtle and presents itself in a very unique way in our patients,” he explains. “It could be a lack of appetite or changes in appetite, decreased energy, changes in sleep, concentration or psychomotor retardation, which is a slowing down of thought, speech or speech. physical mobility. “

Some older people may also express feelings of guilt, hopelessness, or that life is no longer worth living. “It’s a big red flag,” warns Dr Hashmi, “and should be of immediate concern. ”

Caregivers can also help connect loved ones with other resources. “There is a widespread lack of awareness of the community resources and services available right here in the Cleveland area,” says Dr. Hashmi. “Things like shopping for groceries, preparing a meal or helping out [with] getting ready for the day can help in a very practical and functional way.

Virtual health and social services information and entertainment platforms can also provide useful content. “A lot of our seniors are on the other side of the digital divide,” says Dr. Hashmi. “Caregivers can be a navigator of technology so that their loved one can benefit without having to struggle with the technical aspects of it. “

Awareness of these resources can help seniors and their adult children know where to go for help. “Our job as health professionals, with the help of caregivers, is to connect older people to these resources and to help people take more responsibility for their own health. Said Dr Hashmi. He recommends ordering a free copy of the West Reserve Zone Agency on Aging‘s Seniors… Resource Guide.

The impact on children’s mental health
Children and teens have also experienced anxiety and uncertainty during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Even before the pandemic, mental health problems such as depression and anxiety were on the increase in children aged 6 to 17, according to the Centers for Disaster Control and Prevention (CDC).

Much like adults, social isolation, school closings, changes in daily routines, and losses associated with illness are all stressors that children face.

Dr Chivonna Childs PhD“Children experience the same anxiety and depression as adults, but it may sound a little different,” says Dr Chivonna Childs PhD, counseling psychologist and staff psychologist at Behavioral health center at the Cleveland Clinic. “They may be more irritable, cry a lot more, or worry more. They may show signs of sadness or changes in their eating and sleeping habits. Lack of attention and difficulty concentrating can be signs that they are having a hard time coping with this.

Parents or caregivers need to help a child manage their anxiety and reassure them that it won’t always be so, says Dr. Childs. “Validate your child’s feelings and encourage them to express and talk about their emotions,” she says. “If a child is having difficulty, contact a good therapist who can support you and help you navigate the situation. “

Dr Childs says most school-aged children and teens have read things online, seen something on TV, or heard from friends about the COVID-19 virus and may need help sorting it out in disinformation.

“One of the best things we can do is stay informed,” she says. “Obtain information from a reliable, scientific and medical source such as the [CDC] or the World Health Organization (WHO), no You Tube or Facebook. Dr. Childs advises parents to have frequent conversations with their child and to be open and honest. “Ask them what they heard today and encourage them to ask questions,” she says. “Keep them informed and help them research the information for themselves. ”

Additionally, Dr. Childs advises parents to be sure to talk to children their age. “If you have a three-year-old, talk to him like he’s three,” she says. “Teach them to bend their elbow, sneeze into their ‘trunk’, use a tissue and throw the tissue away right away.” The CDC offers free COVID-19 Parenting Resource Kit to help navigate these discussions.

Parents or guardians should help a child manage their anxiety and reassure them that they will not always be so.“We need to teach our children to be resilient,” says Dr Childs. “As parents, we are their role models, so they look to us to tell them and show them what to do. First of all, we have to take care of ourselves. Remember to be in the moment and enjoy what you have right now.

Knowledge is power. “The more we know, the more we feel like we are in control,” says Dr Childs. “Limit the amount of news you receive, but make sure you are informed enough to make the right choices for you and your family. If 2020 hasn’t taught us anything else, it has taught us that we are resilient. “

This story is one of a five-part series on the Cleveland Clinic’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery efforts. To see the full series, Click here.