A new study has suggested that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted the mental health of young people, and increased levels of clinical depression were identified among them. The study was published in the journal named 'Psychiatry Research'. 
The researchers from the University of Surrey surveyed 259 young people pre-pandemic in autumn 2019 and in the middle of initial lockdown measures in May or June 2020, on their levels of depression, anxiety, wellbeing, alcohol use, and sleep quality.
After conducting the survey, the researchers found out that there was a substantial impact on the mental health of these young adults due to the pandemic.
There was also a significant rise in depression symptoms and a reduction in overall wellbeing during the COVID-19 induced lockdown compared to the previous autumn.
The level of clinical depression in all those youngsters who were surveyed was found to have been almost doubled. The percentage increased from 14.9 per cent in autumn 2019 to 34.7 per cent in May/June 2020.
The sleep quality was also seen to decline in the overall sample. Most importantly, a correlation was seen between the rise in depression and lower sleep quality during the lockdown.
Another major concern for the researchers was that they identified a significant shift towards 'eveningness' that indicates a preference to go to sleep and wake later.
This symptom has previously been associated with higher levels of anxiety and a greater prevalence of minor psychiatric disorders.
The researchers were also encouraged by this finding, as it indicated that youngsters were not using alcohol as a coping strategy during the COVID-19 lockdown.
#MentalHealth #COVIDlockdown #COVID19
#MentalHealth #COVIDlockdown #COVID19
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