By Camille Aubin
[email protected]

Online learning, stress, social isolation, and fear of COVID-19 are putting a strain on adolescents’ mental health. Supporting the psychological well-being of youth is urgent.

An analysis by the Canadian Alliance for Student Associations (CASA) reported that more than 70 per cent of students have described themselves as stressed, anxious, or isolated. So at a time when young people need it most, the World Health Organization has reported 75 per cent of school prevention programs and mental health services have stopped or been disrupted all over the world. This is alarming.

Young people often refrain from seeking mental health help for two reasons, according to a release from the B.C. Adolescent Health Survey. They cover up their need for help, first by assuming the problem will simply go away after some time, and second, by not informing their parents of their mental health condition.

Although our community offers fantastic resources and services, it won’t help much if, first and foremost, a substantial majority of young people don’t knock at the door to request these resources and services. How can we assist youths if they aren’t seeking help?

Youths benefit from time spent outdoors. The Adolescent Health Survey indicates that 77 per cent of those youths who frequently or always felt connected to nature indicated that their mental health is good or excellent, as opposed to only 64 per cent of those who rarely or never felt this way.

Help your kids set goals and keep them active! The benefits of sport are clear, however, as many as a third of 2000 youth aged 13 to 24 indicated that they were unsure whether or not they wanted to be involved in sport again after the pandemic, with a fifth stating they are not planning on going back their sport activities when it will be safe to do so.

Another way to help teens could be to incorporate mental-health coping mechanisms into the curriculum. Just like the parts of gym and health classes that teach kids what a healthy body is and what living a healthy life means, teaching a bit about how to maintain positive mental health could make a great difference.

Young people need to know more about mental health issues and treatments to eradicate stigma. It is necessary for those who seek help to know that asking for help is not a sign of weakness. It starts with better knowledge and understanding of mental health at large. Moreover, this will enable them to communicate and find out when they or their friends need help. Understanding the nature of anxiety and depression can go a long way in the process of asking for help.

During the last year of the pandemic, 16 per cent of postsecondary students have seriously considered taking their own lives and three per cent have attempted suicide.

Identifying the sources of stress and comprehending how to overcome them successfully is of paramount importance to good mental health.