Adolescent Mental Health and the COVID-19 Pandemic

​An issue brief written by Assistant Policy Scientists with CCRS Rebecca McColl and Erin Nescott exploring Adolescent Mental Health and the COVID-19 Pandemic​ has been released. Since March 2020, communities nationwide have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the immense threat to physical health, the stress and isolation brought on by the pandemic has threatened the mental well-being of many individuals, particularly children and young adults. A high school student and community member are quoted to share what they've seen first-hand in terms of the mental health of our state's youth population. Sections include: underlying causes of mental health issues including social isolation, remote learning, screen time, health and well-being concerns, economic instability, and access to care. Similar research was completed​ at the closure of 2022, exploring Mental Health Revisits at US Pediatric Emergency Departments and Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health and Brain Maturation in Adolescents: Implications for Analyzing Longitudinal Data​​. Recommendations are made for how to prioritize the mental wellbeing of Delaware's students as we enter a new calendar year.​​