Evidence tells us the COVID pandemic and measures put in place to contain the virus negatively affected the mental health of adolescents and young people in the UK and elsewhere. One review study published in August 2021 estimated that the global prevalence of children and adolescents with depression and anxiety had doubled since the start of the pandemic.
Self-harm and eating disorders typically start during adolescence or early adulthood. As well as being major health issues, both are coping mechanisms that often indicate underlying psychological distress.
