Doctors notice rise in depression, social media addiction cases among youth- HERE is why

The COVID pandemic has had a negative effect on the mental health of many people in the past one and a half years. A team of doctors from a private hospital has observed that the number of cases of depression and social media addiction has risen significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in several lockdowns.

The doctors from Apollo hospital have observed that students and children have been restricted to their homes due to the curbs on outdoor activities amid the COVID lockdown, which has subsequently lead to irritability, erratic sleep, appetite problems, and weight gain in these youths.

Dr Sandeep Vohra, senior consultant, mental health and psychiatry, was quoted saying as per media reports, “The number of OPD consultations for young adults have doubled for anxiety, depression, gaming, and social media addiction and inability to concentrate and focus on studies.”

Suggesting methods to get these children out of this state of mind, the doctor suggested that should keep a connection with their child and talk to them regularly so that they can notice behavioral changes in them.

The spokesperson of the hospital said that doctors compared the number of such cases in 2021 to that in 2019, which helped them reach their conclusion. The doctors also talked about the increase in screen time and internet usage due to the conduction of online classes, as it is the only option to continue studies during the pandemic.

As children have been forced to stay home during this pandemic, the daily physical activity has decreased, which has had an impact on the behavioral characteristics of the school and college students. All these factors, combined with a stagnant and sedentary lifestyle during the pandemic, have triggered a feeling of agitation and helplessness among them.

Doctors stated that there are certain hormones, such as endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine, which are released during physical activity and can keep the mind calm and happy. They further said that parents and teachers should take a step towards addressing the mental health issues in students.

The doctors further advised that if these issues persist in the child, then they should seek professional help. They also added that adolescence is an evolving stage of life, and any physical and mental health disturbance at this stage can hamper the future experiences of that individual.