Intersectionality and Your Mental Health
Amplifying the Mental Health Effects of COVID-19 on Youth, Supporting Their Needs and Creating Awareness
By: Sonya Mungal
The diverse challenges youth have faced with mental health have always been apparent, but the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the mental health needs of young people. This pandemic has shed a light on the increasing levels of depression and anxiety that youth face whilst undergoing such a transitional period within their lives. It is vital that all community members actively engage in conversations with youth concerning mental health while also prioritizing their well-being throughout this pandemic. Ensuring that young people are knowledgeable on school and community-based online resources and daily practices to improve well-being and mental health, means that they will be able to foster positive connections to empower each other when tackling mental health issues.
Social isolation, discrimination, and race-based violence have created a unique and unimaginable experience for youth that has heightened stress and trauma especially for youth of colour. Concerning intersectionality, it is evident that this pandemic has magnified the need to prioritize policy-based work concerning youth of colour to help close the wide range of mental health inequalities that are seen today within this particular community. Traumatic events and depictions of racial and social injustices in media add to the struggles youth face when trying to navigate their emotions surrounding systemic racism and the challenges of the pandemic. Recent distressing events consist of the murders of innocent Black and Indigenous individuals at the hands of police as well as the publicized hate directed towards members of the Asian community. As they process feelings of grief, anger, hopelessness, and loneliness they are often faced with limited access to available support as a result of little awareness of resources for them to rely on.
In addition to the adverse effects COVID-19 has on the mental health of racialized youth, it has created compounding difficulties for those in low-income families. Many young individuals in this position face unprecedented stress when dealing with the likelihood of parents working in the community, away from home. As education transitions to being solely online, young adults can be additionally met with the sudden responsibility of caring for their younger siblings at home while parents are working, on top of juggling school and work. This group experiences additional stress while working in various essential jobs due to the fear of contracting the virus, affecting family members with preexisting health conditions and those who are most at-risk. The increase in susceptibility for older adults to become severely ill from COVID-19 is exacerbated as the number of cases fluctuate, which has also become a large stressor for youth.
With the elimination of momentous in-person events such as graduations, prom, and sporting activities, a sense of isolation is developed amongst youth. Other factors such as limited access to devices as well as the internet can add further feelings of stress and frustration to a youth's everyday life when completing schoolwork and connecting with friends virtually. In conjunction with limited access to mental health resources, isolation can often lead to depression, making those affected less likely to reach out to family and friends when in need. Online education’s ability to significantly increase screen time has led to irritability and burnout as well. This is crucial to acknowledge so youth can become aware of how important meaningful activities such as journaling, exercising, getting fresh air, taking occasional walks, and getting enough sleep are. When students return to school things need to change in terms of the accessibility youth have to beneficial mental health resources and mental health screenings that make it easier for at-risk youth to seek help.
Communities must recognize the disproportionate effects this pandemic has on the well-being of youth and specifically young people of colour and those in low-income families. It is undeniable that many adults are struggling with poor mental health during these times, but it is also just as important to recognize and mitigate these challenges for following generations. Youth deserve to be given what they need to be successful and prosper both now, during the pandemic, and in their future. Through outlined investments in the 2021 Canadian Federal Budget Plan, young people can be hopeful when it comes to finding support in achieving their goals, carrying out their ambitions, and managing good mental health. Please remember to virtually reach out to others, support one another as much as possible, be patient, and be understanding during these unimaginable times.
Notable areas of the 2021 Canadian Federal Budget that pertains to the mental health and well-being of young Canadians include:
Making it easier to repay student loans and alleviating financial stress through waiving interest on student loans for an additional year and doubling Canada Student Grants for an additional two years
Investing in the support of after-school organization to ensure vulnerable youth are not further marginalized as a result of the pandemic
Ensuring youth have better access quality job opportunities to gain valuable experience in the workforce using the Student Work Placement Program, Youth Employment and Skills Strategy and Canada Summer Jobs Program
Investing in innovative mental health intervention projects for those communities disproportionately affected by COVID-19.
Investing in high-quality education for indigenous communities and supporting indigens students in postsecondary environments through the Post-Secondary Student Support Program, the Inuit and Métis Nation Post-Secondary Education Strategies
Adam van Koeverden - Statement by Member April 30th, 2021
“Mr. Speaker, this has been a really tough year on everyone, but recent research from SickKids Hospital has shown that children and youth have experienced a unique variety of negative impacts on their mental health because of COVID-19. Greater stress from feeling isolated; the cancellation of sports, other events and in-person class; and just not being able to hang out have all caused increased anxiety, depression and irritability.
COVID-19 sucks. It sucks for everybody, but that is especially true for kids and youth. It is so important that Canadian youth know two things. First, this is temporary. We are going to get through this. Things are going to get way better really soon. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Second, it is okay not to be okay. In fact, right now it is totally normal not to be okay and there is help available.
In Milton, the Reach Out Centre for Kids is at rockonline.ca. There is also wellnesstogether.ca; and Kids Help Phone, over text at 686868. It is free and 24-7.
For over a year, we have been apart, but children and youth are not alone. I ask them to please take care of themselves, take care of one another and always remember they are loved.”
https://openparliament.ca/debates/2021/4/30/adam-van-koeverden-1/
