Mental health of adolscent post covid

 According to the study, from 2020 to 2023, Indians' mental health dropped overall (18–74 years old), but it declined more among those in the 18–24 age range. The mental health ratings of Indians in all age categories decreased nearly two years after the epidemic that decreased social connections, raised unemployment rates, and increased usage of social media and the internet.

Every element of our life has been severely affected by the COVID-19 epidemic, but one of the most important areas of worry is of it affecting youngsters' mental health. Adolescence is already a period of profound vulnerability and change, characterized by demands from the classroom, social growth, and identity construction.The pandemic hence has introduced unprecedented challenges, exacerbating existing stressors and creating new ones for teenagers around the world.

The sudden disruption of normal routines, such as school closings, social distancing policies, and less social engagements has left many teenagers feeling isolated, lonely, and disconnected from their peers. The loss of missing out on important experiences, such as graduations, proms, and extracurricular activities, has further contributed to feelings of disappointment and disillusionment. Pari Singla a class 12th student who has recently given her boards in the year 2024 recently in a conversation said that "since she had taken up science as a stream she had to leave school and take dummy to prepare for boards and other competitive exams such as jee has missed out on her school farewell and graduation ceremony which she longed for as a child. She also said that she hasn't gone to school physically since class 9 as during COVID years it was all online and in grade 11 she took a dummy." 

The epidemic has even caused the beginning of new mental health issues in some youngsters or made pre-existing ones worse. Teens find it difficult these days to ask for and obtain essential care when they lack access to in-person mental health services and support networks. Ms Sneha Karmakar studying currently in Du recently told in a conversation that "Mental health during covid times were such that I used to isolate myself most of the times frankly speaking was kinda habituated it took a drastic toll on my mental health and affect my studies and relationships with peers. The worst phase of my life that period was so to say."

Due to this in recent years it has also given birth to new trend so to say. Which is visible in all of us especially in teenagers and that is "Popcorn Brain". 

But What is Popcorn Brain ? Well it is a cognitive state where mind shift rapidly from one thought to another just like how popcorn kernels pop continuously. It is characterized by lack of structured thinking it happens mainly because of being heavily dependent on digital gadgets for socialization, distant learning, and entertainment leading to overuse of screentime combined with little exercise and time spent outside has had a detrimental effect on their mental and physical health giving birth to this phenomenon. 

But by Adopting few strategies such as meditation , structured task management , making routine timetable and following it consistently can help regulate congnitive process and improve concentration. Adequate sleep and facilitating methods to enhance concentration and cognitive functioning of brain can help combat popcorn brain to an extent and develope positive mental well being.