Young people’s mental health was already under strain before the Covid-19 pandemic, but the acute phase of the pandemic disproportionately affected them.
This is the main conclusion of a report on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on young people’s mental health and the policy responses of states in Europe, published on Monday 10 October by the European Commission.
Several factors are put forward to explain this asymmetry. The most important factor seems to be job loss, with young workers being the most exposed to this type of risk. The cessation of recreational activities and the reduction of social contacts are also cited.
Among young people, certain groups are more likely to experience mental health problems, such as young people who already have mental health issues or LGBTQIA+ young people.
The report takes stock of the European and national measures in place (access to mental health care services, attention to vulnerable groups), provides guidance and compiles with best practices for the future.
It also recommends that the efforts made during the pandemic be continued and that the information channels initiated during the lockdown be kept open.
Link to the report: https://aeur.eu/f/3i9 (Original version in French by Emilie Vanderhulst)