Half Of Global Youth Population Subject To Depression Due To COVID-19, Women More Vulnerable: UN Study

COVID-19 pandemic may be severely impacting your mental health. Depression among youth worldwide is on a rise. One in two young people is showing symptoms of depression or anxiety, according to a survey by the International Labour Organization - a United Nations agency. The ILO's data from the ''Youth and COVID-19: impacts on jobs, education, rights and mental well-being'' survey has also found that, more than a third of young people are uncertain about their career due to the pandemic.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted every aspect of our lives," the report says, further stating that the effect of the pandemic is much higher on young people and that "the social and economic integration of young people was an ongoing challenge. Now, unless urgent action is taken, young people are likely to suffer severe and long-lasting impacts from the pandemic."

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What You Should Know

• Signs of anxiety and depression are being observed in the young global population due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a UN study reveals.
• Every one in two young people may be "subject to anxiety or depression, while  17 percent are probably affected by it."
• Those who have dropped out of college or lost their jobs are likely to be affected more.

The ILO survey was conducted among people aged between 18 to 29 years and participants were asked questions about their prospects of employment, education, mental health, rights and social activism. It also aimed at capturing the immediate effects of the pandemic on their lives. From over 12,000 responses received from 112 countries, the survey found that one in two (50 percent) participants are possibly subject to anxiety or depression, while 17 percent are probably affected by it. However, the impact is higher on young women and  young people between the ages of 18 and 24 years as their "mental well-being is at the lowest." Young women were seven percent more likely to show possible anxiety or depression as compared to men. Young women students were also 7.8 percent more likely than young men students to exhibit signs of possible anxiety or depression

"Severe disruption to learning and working, compounded by the health crisis, has seen a deterioration in young people's mental well-being," the survey said.

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The study has also revealed that those who have dropped out of college or lost their jobs are likely to be affected more by anxiety or depression as compared to those who remained employed or whose education was not affected. ILO Director-General Guy Ryder said that "The pandemic is inflicting multiple shocks on young people. It is not only destroying their jobs and employment prospects, but also disrupting their education and training and having a serious impact on their mental well-being."

Feature Image Credit: Development News

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