For many, Covid-19 is simply an afterthought, something so far in the past that we forget it even happened.
For many, Covid-19 is simply an afterthought, something so far in the past that we forget it even happened. Whilst we occasionally look back and romanticise (or demonise) our time in lockdown, we forget about some of the long-term impacts. These don’t just affect government and economic systems but also us, even if it is unknowingly. An Observer analysis has found that, compared to many other developed countries, the UK has performed significantly worse in categories such as life expectancy, homelessness and mental health of young people. For context, the drop in life expectancy for both genders has reversed over a decade of progress, in addition to the UK having the “second lowest average life satisfaction of 15-year-olds across all OECD countries.” Uni students who experienced lockdown in their pre-teen and teenage years were particularly prone to long lasting mental health issues, academic setbacks and the establishment of unhealthy habits.
The need for more robust mental health services is clear when examining the issue from a wellbeing perspective. In June 2021, following Covid-19, the highest number of people
requesting or receiving mental health support was recorded (12.4% greater than the prior year). Specifically, increased cases of anxiety and depression were observed in children and adolescents. Racine et al. deduced that, during covid, anxiety and depression increased by
58.9% and 117.2% respectively. The impact on adolescents was worsened by the disruption of pre-established appointments and the growing waitlist for strained services. Upon social reintegration, the effects of long term isolation did not diminish, displayed by the current strain on mental health systems. In order to cope with the pandemic, funds were diverted from mental health services, decreasing their capacity. Whilst capital has since been redistributed with the aim to improve these services, the number of people on the waiting list has increased by 29% compared to the prior two years.
Furthermore, lockdown promoted the establishment of unhealthy habits in our daily routine. Many remember the restricted amount of activities available to us due the closure of local establishments and limited time allowed to spend outside. As a result, we were left with screens as a way to cope with the boredom. Past activities such as socialising and going to school quickly switched from in-person to online, reflected by the increase in screen time from 2.67 to 4.38 hours a day. We became dependent on screens as a source of entertainment, social fulfilment and education, and for many of us we carried this into adulthood, even after the end of quarantine. Additionally, we became used to a sedentary lifestyle, being housebound and without access to exercise equipment. This reduced physical activity, combined with nocturnal waking patterns and inconsistent sleep patterns, led to physical and health declines. Many of us are still learning what exercise suits us and how to establish a healthy sleep routine.
Ultimately, Covid-19 slowed our personal development through delaying our independence. Instead of our parents establishing curfews and boundaries, the virus did, causing us to miss crucial milestones. For many, this took the form of missed first jobs, lack of socialisation, loss of educational opportunities and beyond. Whilst this pandemic is far beyond us, the mental effects and impact on our habits still persist today, even if unnoticed.