COVID-19 Support
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Support for Teens and Young Adults
Center for Disease Control (CDC), 2021
Some of the questions you might be asking are, “Should I be freaking out about COVID-19?” and “Why can’t I hang out with my friends in person?”. You may be feeling worried, bored, or frustrated. COVID-19 is frightening, and you are not the only one feeling stressed.
While anyone can catch the virus that causes COVID-19 and people of all ages and backgrounds can get severely ill, most people have a mild illness and are able to recover at home. But regardless of your personal risk, it is natural to be concerned for your friends and family or about uncertainty and changes in your daily routine.
There are things you can do to manage your stress.
Learn about COVID-19. Knowing the facts and stopping the spread of rumors about COVID-19 can help you feel more in control of what is happening.
Help stop the spread of COVID-19 by washing your hands often with soap and water, covering coughs and sneezes, and avoiding close contact with other people – even your friends. COVID-19 may be spread by people who do not have symptoms. These actions will keep you from getting sick and spreading the virus to other people you care about.
If you are not fully vaccinated and aged 2 or older, you should wear a mask in indoor public places.
In general, you do not need to wear a mask in outdoor settings.
In areas with high numbers of COVID-19 cases, consider wearing a mask in crowded outdoor settings and for activities with close contact with others who are not fully vaccinated.
If you are fully vaccinated, see When You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated.
You can be social, but do it from a distance, such as reaching out to friends by phone, text, video chat, and social media.
Find ways to relax. Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate
Try to do activities you enjoy, like exercising, gaming, reading or other hobbies.
Keep to a schedule. Plan times for doing school work, relaxing, and connecting with friends.
Avoid alcohol and drugs. These substances can weaken your body’s ability to fight infections and increase the risk of certain complications associated with COVID-19.
Talk with someone you trust about your thoughts and feelings.
You may be feeling loss or distress over the changes in your life during this time. There are steps you can take to cope with your grief.
Problems with relationships at home and at school, a family history of substance abuse, mental health challenges like depression and anxiety, or a history of sexual abuse can increase your risk for a substance use disorder. Stress, anxiety, and depression caused by isolation and other changes to your way of life during the COVID-19 pandemic can also increase your risk for a substance use disorder. Because of the pandemic, you may be dealing with fear, anxiety, or loss and separation from friends and loved ones.
Early treatment for a substance use disorder can help prevent serious health issues or death. People with substance use disorders are also at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. When a substance use disorder is left untreated, the risk for drug overdose or suicide becomes higher.
If you or someone you know may be at risk for a substance use disorder, talk to a trained professional.
. You can still get support for a substance use disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic. Don’t delay getting help because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ask for help now.
Grief and Loss
Many people are experiencing grief during the COVID-19 pandemic. Grief is a normal response to loss during or after a disaster or other traumatic event. Grief can happen in response to loss of life, as well as to drastic changes to daily routines and ways of life that usually bring us comfort and a feeling of stability. Common grief reactions include:
Shock, disbelief, or denial
Anxiety
Distress
Anger
Periods of sadness
Loss of sleep and loss of appetite
Some people may experience multiple losses during a disaster or large-scale emergency event. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, you might be unable to be with a loved one when they die, or unable to mourn someone’s death in-person with friends and family. Other types of loss include unemployment, or not making enough money, loss or reduction in support services, and other changes in your lifestyle. These losses can happen at the same time, which can complicate or prolong grief and delay a person’s ability to adapt, heal, and recover.
People cope with losses in different ways. If you need help dealing with your loss, resources are available to help:
Adolescents may also experience grief in ways that are both similar to and different than children and adults. Adolescents may experience significant changes in their sleep patterns, isolate themselves more, frequently appear irritable or frustrated, withdraw from usual activities, or engage more frequently with technology. It is important for parents or caregivers to engage with their adolescents over their grief to promote healthy coping and acceptance. Parents may also need to obtain mental health services for the adolescent and family to deal with grief.
If you have lost a loved one during the covid-19 pandemic
Grieving the loss of a loved one while coping with the fear and anxiety related to the COVID-19 pandemic can be especially overwhelming. Social distancing, “stay-at home-orders,” and limits on the size of in-person gatherings have changed the way friends and family can gather and grieve, including holding traditional funeral services, regardless of whether or not the person’s death was due to COVID-19. However, these types of prevention strategies are important to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Some actions you can take to help you cope with feelings of grief after the loss of a loved include:
Connecting with other people
Invite people to call you or host conference calls with family members and friends to stay connected.
Ask family and friends to share stories and pictures with you via mailed letters, email, phone, or video chat or via apps or social media that allow groups to share with each other (e.g., group chat, group messaging, Facebook).
Coordinate a date and time for family and friends to honor your loved one by reciting a selected poem, spiritual reading, or prayer within their own households.
Creating memories or rituals.
Develop a virtual memory book, blog, or webpage to remember your loved one, and ask family and friends to contribute their memories and stories.
Take part in an activity, such as planting a tree or preparing a favorite meal, that has significance to you and the loved one who died.
Asking for help from others
Seek out grief counseling or mental health services, support groups, or hotlines, especially those that can be offered over the phone or online.
Seek spiritual support from faith-based organizations, including your religious leaders and congregations, if applicable.
Seek support from other trusted community leaders and friends.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the family and close friends of a person who died of COVID-19 may experience stigma, such as social avoidance or rejection. Stigma hurts everyone by creating fear or anger towards other people. Some people may avoid contacting you, your family members, and friends when they would normally reach out to you. Stigma related to COVID-19 is less likely to occur when people know the facts and share them with extended family, friends, and others in your community.
If you feel distress from other types of loss or change
During the COVID-19 pandemic, you may feel grief due to loss of a job; inability to connect in-person with friends, family or religious organizations; missing special events and milestones (such as graduations, weddings, vacations); and experiencing drastic changes to daily routines and ways of life that bring comfort. You may also feel a sense of guilt for grieving over losses that seem less important than loss of life. Grief is a universal emotion; there is no right or wrong way to experience it, and all losses are significant.
Here are some ways to cope with feelings of grief (You can also refer to the Grief page here) :
Acknowledge your losses and your feelings of grief.
Find ways to express your grief. Some people express grief and find comfort through art, gardening, writing, talking to friends or family, cooking, music, gardening or other creative practices.
Consider developing new rituals in your daily routine to stay connected with your loved ones to replace those that have been lost.
People who live together may consider playing board games and exercising together outdoors.
People who live alone or are separated from their loved ones may consider interacting through phone calls and apps that allow for playing games together virtually.
If you are worried about future losses, try to stay in the present and focus on aspects of your life that you have control over right now.
Covid-19 parental resource kit from the CDC
Ensuring Children and Young People’s Social, Emotional, and Mental Well-being
Resources, by Age Group:
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