Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on the Mental Health of Adolescents in India

Given the current situation in the world due to the spread of COVID-19, it appears as if life has turned topsy-turvy. The situation of India is no different. As a precaution and to stop the spread of Corona virus, the Government of India declared a nationwide lockdown on 24th March 2020. The pandemic has the potential to adversely affect the mental health of the most vulnerable groups such as the children and adolescents significantly.

The COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown may have multiple consequences on the lives of adolescents – chronic and acute stress, worry for their families, unexpected bereavements, sudden and drastic change in schooling, and home confinement leading to increased screen time spent on the Internet and social media, loss of face to face relationships, lack of exercise and lethargy, increased frictions at home and even domestic violence, worry for the economic future of their family and country.

Therefore, to understand the impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on adolescents’ mental health, Mind Specialists, an initiative by RAHAT Charitable and Medical Research conducted a survey on adolescents in India. An online survey with a total sample of 354 respondents from the age group of 12-19 years was carried out to assess the effect of COVID 19 on Adolescent’s Mental Health. It was a voluntary self-selected sample.

Download the report to view the findings and results of the online survey.