This project is for the fulfilment of requirements for PROJECT WORK in ENGLISH for Class XII. The project throws light on the multitude of effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of young and the challenges that are faced by children and adolescents in these testing times. The write-up also details actions and solutions to help overcome these challenges. Working on this project has given me an opportunity to read existing literature on the subject, listen to the perspectives of the young, their teachers and experts on the theme. I could relate with several challenges mentioned by others which gave me the reassurance that others across the globe are also facing issues similar to mine. It also helped me understand the psycho-social effects better and take the challenges more positively and take appropriate action.

1. Helping the young cope
with the pandemic
-Aditya Garg
Class: 12-C
Board Roll No: 14636974
DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL
VASANT KUNJ
School No. 25077

2. 1
INDEX
S.No Context Page No
1. Purpose of project 2
2. Certificate of Completion 3
3. Action Plan 4
4. Materials Used 5
5. Essay 6
6. Student Reflections 9
7. Bibliography 10

3. 2
PURPOSE OF PROJECT
This project is for the fulfilment of requirements for
PROJECT WORK in ENGLISH for Class XII. The project
throws light on the multitude of effects of the
ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of
young and the challenges that are faced by children
and adolescents in these testing times. The write-up
also details actions and solutions to help overcome
these challenges.

4. 3
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION
This is to certify that ADITYA GARG, 14636974, CLASS
12, BATCH of 2021-22, DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL VASANT
KUNJ, has successfully completed the PROJECT WORK
in ENGLISH. The project is titled “Helping the young
cope with the pandemic”. The Project on evaluation
fulfils all the required criteria.
Teacher’s signature
(PGT. ENGLISH)
DPS VASANT KUNJ

5. 4
ACTION PLAN
For this project I started by searching for existing
literature on the theme. I read some articles from
WHO and UNICEF. I read some research articles on
the subject. Then I also listened to Ted Talks and
videos to obtain the perspectives of the young,
teenagers, parents, teachers and experts on the
problems and challenges. Then I made a bulleted list
of important issues that I felt were important to
address. I also simultaneously read about
suggestions, advice and plausible solutions for the
issues.
After creating a list of relevant points, I wrote the
essay and finalised it after several drafts.

6. 5
MATERIAL USED
For this project work, I used
search engine Google, research articles, videos,
presentations, ted talks and WHO reports.

7. 6
ESSAY
Helping the young cope with the pandemic
COVID-19, which started as a viral disease towards the end of 2019, has
consumed the entire world in a little more than two years. The pandemic, has
not only been a physical health crisis but has the seeds of a major
psychological crisis as well.
According to the World Health Organization mental health is "a state of well-
being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with
the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to
contribute to her or his community."
Since early 2020, governments across the globe, have had to enforce extended
periods of 'lockdown' where whole populations have been advised to remain
in their households. Measures such as physical distancing, quarantines,
closure of schools and activity areas, and 'work from home' have been
enforced to reduce the transmission and spread of the virus.
The social impact of the COVID-19 crisis has resulted in the mental health and
emotional well-being of millions getting affected in multiple ways. This is
particularly true for young individuals. The social and physical isolation, loss of
routine, sickness, loss of near and dear ones, emotional and financial
insecurities, uncertainty of the future, helplessness and lack of control over the
situation have impacted their daily lives and disrupted their education. This has
resulted in youth experiencing mixed feelings of fear, anxiety, anger, grief,
sadness and sleep disorders. Access to mental health services has also been
severely impacted, hard-hitting the ones with special needs.
These inexorable circumstances which are beyond normal experience, are
bound to create stress and affect mental health, more so, of those between 10
and 19 years that make up 16 % of the world's population (UNICEF, 2019).
According to an international survey of children and adults in 21 countries
conducted by UNICEF, 1 in every 5 young people aged 15-24 feel depressed or
have little interest in doing things. Young people feel less motivated to do
activities they usually enjoyed and even avoid doing the regular chores. They
feel pessimistic about their future.

8. 7
Reduced outdoor activities, movement in open spaces, outdoor recreation,
park use and being confined to home have pushed the young into loneliness
and increased their anxiety levels. Parents have noticed that their children
have difficulty concentrating, are more irritable, restless and nervous. This
drastically diminishes their productivity.
The pre–lockdown learning of children and adolescents involved continuous
and one-to-one interaction with their mentors and peer groups. The closure of
schools and colleges, and confinement to homes has disrupted their education,
physical and social activities and the entire learning process. Libraries are shut,
activity areas are closed, dependence on digital platforms and parents has
increased. The entire learning process has taken a setback. The educational
institutions have continued with assessments to justify their efforts, created
new formats of evaluation, adding to the anxiety and fear in the young minds.
Sadly, no one is thinking of the fall in learning outcomes and the effect it will
have on the lives ahead. The increased and compulsive use of the internet and
social media has exposed young minds to objectionable content and increased
their vulnerability to violence, abuse and bullying.
Social inequality has always been associated with the risk of adversely affecting
the mental health of the young. The pandemic and lockdown have worsened
the pre-existing social inequality. Underprivileged children and adolescents
face acute deprivation of nutrition and protection.
India has the largest child population in the world with 472 million children,
the lockdown has severely impacted 40 million poor children. Closure of a safe
– school and college environment coupled with economic adversity has
increased their vulnerability to mental health issues and unfavourable
outcomes such as exploitation and child labour. Gender inequality and
decreased access of girls to digital platforms of education will have long-term
ramifications in the society. COVID has undone the years of education gain in
the society and accentuated the difference between the 'haves' and the 'have-
nots'.
The adolescent age is extremely crucial in the physical and mental
development of every individual. During puberty, there are hormonal changes
in the body. The young are educated on these as part of health education and
quell their anxiety and curiosity by sharing their experiences with peers. Lack
of physical activity and social bonding is harming their growth, both physically
and mentally.

9. 8
We need to understand how young minds can be best supported to resume
normal life or the 'new normal' in the coming months and years. We need to
adopt positivity towards the crisis. We should stay active, spend time on
ourselves and keep fit and healthy, learn skills, connect online with family and
friends and stay close-knit in the house.
Parents, educators and older adults need to be more tolerant and emphatic
towards children and interact with them. They need to ensure that they have
the support and resources they need to address their mental, emotional, and
behavioural needs during the testing times of the pandemic.
Technology should be given a humane touch and be used as a great connecter
to enhance the education and well–being of the young through interaction and
counselling. They need to be given more positive responses and made to
understand that stress does more damage than the virus itself.
As COVID-19 heads into its third year, we are all as global citizens, young
people included, facing a series of unprecedented challenges which has torn
the very fabric of our societies and caused untold damage and human
suffering. Using technology to communicate and stay connected, in addition to
leading healthy lifestyles and developing innovative coping mechanisms,
including a positive attitude, is more than crucial in safeguarding our mental
health and well-being.

10. 9
STUDENT REFLECTIONS
Working on this project has given me an opportunity
to read existing literature on the subject, listen to the
perspectives of the young, their teachers and experts
on the theme. I could relate with several challenges
mentioned by others which gave me the reassurance
that others across the globe are also facing issues
similar to mine. It also helped me understand the
psycho-social effects better and take the challenges
more positively and take appropriate action.

11. 10
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/impacts-lockdown-
mental-health-children-and-young-people
2. https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/impact-covid-19-poor-mental-
health-children-and-young-people-tip-iceberg
3. https://www.un.org/en/academic-impact/covid-19-crisis-and-mental-
health-challenges-among-youth-opinion-piece
4. https://www.un.org/youthenvoy/2020/04/copingwithcovid-a-webinar-
series-on-young-people-and-mental-health/
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7444649/
6. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/12/green-space-mental-
health-young-people/
7. https://www.unicef.org/lac/en/impact-covid-19-mental-health-
adolescents-and-youth
8. https://unric.org/en/covid-19-impact-on-young-peoples-mental-health-
in-spotlight/
9. https://youtu.be/HYanhlwD778
10. Impact of COVID-19 and lockdown on mental health of children and
adolescents: A narrative review with recommendations. Psychiatry Res.
2020 Nov; 293: 113429. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113429