The impact of COVID-19 on youth mental health: A mixed methods survey

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented profound disruptions to young people at a critical period of psychosocial development. The current study aimed to explore the perceived negative and positive impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people's mental health and wellbeing across a spectrum of clinical needs. A cross-sectional online survey including both quantitative and qualitative responses captured positive and negative impacts of COVID-19 across 593 young people with and without mental health care needs. Findings revealed high levels of clinical depression (48%), anxiety (51%), and loneliness in both samples. Approximately 75% of young people in primary mental health care services, and o..