June 23, 2020

Is COVID-19 Affecting Your Teen’s Mental Health?

Social distancing can magnify symptoms of depression and anxiety

teenager isolated at home sitting in window

Disrupted routines. Separation from their friends. Worry about world events. For teens and tweens, the coronavirus pandemic adds new pressure to their already tumultuous world.

Advertisement

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

These stressors can intensify existing mental health issues in teens, says Ellen Rome, MD, MPH, a pediatrician and head of the Center for Adolescent Medicine.

“We’re likely to see lots of acting-out behavior during this pandemic,” she says.

Parents and health care professionals should be on the lookout for warning signs of depression and anxiety in teens.

Different teens, different reactions

Surprisingly, for anxious or introverted teens, current events may actually bring about a sense of calm or relief. “The world is experiencing some of the baseline anxiety that they live with day-to-day, so for some kids, that’s actually reassuring,” Dr. Rome says. “The world gets them more.”

But many adolescents are struggling.

“The extroverts who tend to recharge with people are devastated by quarantine, and many of them will do everything they can — including participating in risk-taking behaviors or not socially distancing — to get around it, which can potentially put their families and loved ones at risk,” she says.

Advertisement

These steps may help minimize those behaviors:

  • Plan safe ways for teens to engage socially. “That may mean a bike ride where everyone can’t be that close to each other, or a socially distant bonfire where the parent places the chairs where they need to be,” Dr. Rome says.
  • Help them understand. Parents can talk with teens and tweens about the spread of the coronavirus and their risk — but it’s important to do so in a way that’s appropriate for their age, says Dr. Rome.
  • Engage them in the solution. If your teen sneaks out of the house to meet friends or engages in other risky behaviors, Dr. Rome suggests asking them to suggest their own punishment. This way, they’re more likely to think about the consequences of their actions. Ask them for other ways that have less impact on the household, extended family and community.

Screen time, sleep + social media

For some families, staying home means everyone’s spending more time in front of the TV or online. Excessive screen time and news consumption can stress teens out. It can also worsen anxiety and depression — especially if they aren’t following a schedule or aren’t getting enough sleep.

Work with your teen to set reasonable expectations for screen time and ensure they get enough sleep (at least 9 to 9.5 hours a night). Make sure cell phones are put away an hour before bedtime.

Teens may feel especially frustrated if they observe their friends or other families who aren’t being as strict about social distancing. Encourage teens to share these frustrations with you, and acknowledge that things are hard. In some cases, teens might have mixed feelings that result in an apparent cognitive dissonance.

“They may get that it’s not safe to go out because their mom is immunocompromised, and yet at the same time be completely disappointed,” Dr. Rome says.

Depression: Not all warning signs are obvious

It’s important for parents and pediatricians to be on the lookout for signs of depression in teens, including:

  • Emotional changes, such as feelings of hopelessness or emptiness.
  • Trouble thinking or concentrating.
  • Changes in eating habits or weight.
  • Changes in sleep patterns.
  • Sudden contact with a friend who’s a known troublemaker.

Isolation can be a potential warning sign, but a teen hiding in their room isn’t always cause for alarm.

Advertisement

“This is a hard one, because in crowded households where everyone is doing their thing from home, a bedroom may become a sanctuary,” Dr. Rome says. “Yet, if you have a depressed child, is the bedroom a dangerous place? Is it a place for self-harm? Is it a place where the kid is stuck in their own head with things getting worse?”

If a teen begins isolating to the point that they’re taking all their meals alone, that can be a sign of disordered eating, or that the family dynamic has become toxic.

If your child makes any mention of suicide, take those words seriously and take action immediately. “If kids use the magic words ‘I want to kill myself,’ that’s time for a psychiatrist and a therapist,” Dr. Rome says.

Seeking help from a professional therapist may also be warranted for teens whose anxiety is serious and affects their daily life. If your teen is hesitant to talk to a professional, Dr. Rome suggests framing it as strength-building or coaching, rather than fixing something that’s broken.

“You can say, hey if you want to be an NBA all-star, you’d seek out a coach to build your skills,” she says. “If you want to be resilient in times of stress and crisis, we all could use a really good coach to help us be at our best.”

Related Articles

Child and parent meeting with mental health therapist.
February 7, 2023
What To Do and What Not To Do When Your Child Is in Therapy

Be involved in your kid’s care, but be mindful of boundaries

Parent annoyed with angsty teenager.
November 23, 2022
Is Your Teen Depressed or Just Moody?

Paying attention and opening the lines of communication are key to supporting your child

Teen sitting alone on staircase
August 29, 2022
Signs Your Teenager Might Be Self-Harming

Cutting and other forms of self-injury are on the rise among teens

Man seated on a couch with his hand on the back of am small child as if comforting her
August 1, 2022
How To Explain Death to a Child

It’s best to be honest and straightforward while remaining age-appropriate

A person coughing and holding their chest
December 2, 2021
You Have COVID-19 — Now What Happens?

What to expect when you’re treated for or hospitalized with COVID-19

older woman sad looking out window
October 8, 2021
How the Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic Is Taking a Toll on Mental Health

8 ways to cope with the stress of a long-haul pandemic

covid vaccine
October 6, 2021
Should You Get the COVID-19 Vaccine If You Have Allergies?

Get the facts before assuming the worst

covid testicular health
September 28, 2021
Can the COVID-19 Vaccine Affect Your Testicles?

Just one more myth to add to the misinformation pile

Trending Topics

group of hands holding different beverages
November 14, 2023
10 Myths About Drinking Alcohol You Should Stop Repeating

Coffee won’t cure a hangover and you definitely shouldn’t mix your cocktail with an energy drink

Person applies moisturizer as part of their skin care routine after a shower.
November 10, 2023
Korean Skin Care Routines: What You Need To Know

Focus on the philosophy — replenishing and respecting your skin — not necessarily the steps

glass of cherry juice with cherries on table
November 8, 2023
Sleepy Girl Mocktail: What’s in It and Does It Really Make You Sleep Better?

This social media sleep hack with tart cherry juice and magnesium could be worth a try

Ad