mental health of teenagers in pandemic

1. PANDEMIC EFFECT
ON TEENAGERS:
HOW TO DEAL
WITH THE STRESS
DR. ARATRIKA SEN
CONSULTANT PSYCHIATRIST

2. COMMON PROBLEMS FACED
BY TEENAGERS:
1. BUILDING A CAREER
[JEE/NEET/IIT/AIIMS/NITs &
blah blah blah….]
2. COMPARISON TO OTHERS
[SHARMA JI KA LADKA]
3. SELF-ESTEEM AND BODY
IMAGE
4. CYBER ADDICTION
5. BULLYING
6. ADDICTION
7. SEXUAL MYTHS
8. CONFLICT WITH PARENTS

3. WHAT IS
STRESS???
Stress is a physical, mental,
or emotional factor that causes
bodily or mental tension.
Stresses can be
 External (from the
environment, psychological,
or social situations)
 Internal (illness, or from a
medical procedure).

4. DEFINITION
S = P > R
Stress occurs
when the
pressure is
greater than the
resource

5. EUSTRESS vs. DISTRESS

6. EUSTRESS
Also called POSITIVE STRESS
Motivates, focuses energy
Is short-term
Is perceived as within our coping abilities
Feels exciting
Improves performance

7. POSITIVE STRESS
RESULTS
INCREASED
CONCENTRATION
INCREASES
PERFORMANCE
ENERGIZES INTO
MOTION

8. DISTRESS
Also called NEGATIVE STRESS
Causes anxiety or concern
Can be short- or long-term
Is perceived as outside of our coping abilities
Feels unpleasant
Decreases performance
Can lead to mental and physical problems

9. NEGATIVE STRESS
RESULTS
LOSS OF
MOTIVATION
REDUCED
EFFECTIVENESS
PHYSICAL,
MENTAL,
BEHAVIOURAL
PROBLEMS

11. TYPES OF
STRESSORS
EXTERNAL
1. PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
2. SOCIAL INTERACTION
3. ORGANISATIONAL
4. MAJOR LIFE EVENTS
5. DAILY HASSLES
INTERNAL
1. LIFESTYLE CHOICES
2. NEGATIVE SELF-TALK
3. MIND TRAPS
4. PERSONALITY TRAITS

12. SYMPTOMS OF STRESS
 Physical symptoms
 Mental symptoms
 Behavioral symptoms
 Emotional symptoms

13. PHYSICAL
SYMPTOMS
 Sleep pattern
changes
 Sweating &
trembling
 Tingling hands &
feet
 Breathlessness
 Palpitations
 Missed heartbeats
 Fatigue
 pains
 Fainting
 Headaches &
Aches
 Indigestion
 Dizziness

14. MENTAL SYMPTOMS
 Lack of concentration
 Memory lapses
 Difficulty in making decisions
 Confusion
 Panic attacks

15. BEHAVIOURAL SYMPTOMS
 Appetite changes - too much or
too little
 Eating disorders - anorexia,
bulimia
 Increased intake of alcohol &
other drugs
 Increased smoking
 Restlessness
 Fidgeting
 Nail biting

16. EMOTIONAL
SYMPTOMS
 Bouts of depression
 Impatience
 Fits of rage
 Tearfulness
 Deterioration of
personal hygiene and
appearance

17. THE STRESS RESPONSE
 DR. HANS SELYE & DR.
WALTER CANNON
 1930
 “STRESS THEORY”

18. GENERAL ADAPTATION
SYNDROME
Alarm
response
Adaptation
Exhaustion

20. PANDEMIC?????
A disease prevalent
over a whole country
or the world.

21. PHASES OF A PANDEMIC

22. PROBLEMS
FACED BY
TEENAGERS:
FEAR OF CONTRACTING THE INFECTION.
UNSTABLE ACADEMIC OR CAREER
OPTIONS.
UNDER CONSTANT SUPERVISION OF
PARENTS/ADULTS.
SOCIAL DISTANCING.

23. STRESS

24. PANDEMIC EFFECT ON
TEENAGER SUICIDE
 MARKEDLY INCREASED
INCIDENCE POST COVID-19
 MOSTLY IN ADOLESCENT AND
EARLY ADULTHOOD
 LOCKDOWN, LESS OUTDOOR
ACTIVITY, MORE SCREEN
EXPOSURE
 UNMASKING OF IMPULSIVITY,
DSH
 INCREASED SUBSTANCE ABUSE-
ADDITIVE EFFECT

26. WARNING SIGNS
 DEPRESSED MOST OF THE TIME
 HOPELESSNESS/ HELPLESSNESS/ WORTHLESSNESS
 SELF ISOLATION
 POOR SELF CARE
 OVERT/ COVERT STATEMENTS
 EXTREME ANHEDONIA
 GIVING AWAY PRIZED BELONGINGS
 ARRANGEMENT FOR WILL
 CONSTANT PREOCCUPATION WITH DEATH/ DYING

27. ABC STRATEGY
1. A = AWARENESS
What causes you stress?
How do you react?
2. B = BALANCE
There is a fine line between positive / negative
stress How much can you cope with before it
becomes negative ?
3. C = CONTROL
What can you do to help yourself combat the
negative effects of stress ?
MANAGEMENT

28. STRESS
MANAGEMENT
PHARMACOLOGICAL
NON-
PHARMACOLOGICAL

29. NON-
PHARMACOLOGICAL
MANAGEMENT
NON-
PHARMACOLOCIAL
MANAGEMENT
CHANGE YOUR
THINKING
CHANGE YOUR
BEHAVIOUR
CHANGE YOUR
LIFESTYLE

30. CHANGE YOUR THINKING
 Re-framing
 Positive thinking

32. CHANGE YOUR BEHAVIOUR
 Be assertive
 Get organized
 Ventilation
 Humor
 Diversion and
distraction

33. CHANGE YOUR
LIFESTYLE
 Diet
 Stop Smoking & Alcohol
 Exercise
 Sleep
 Leisure
 Relaxation

34. ALTERNATIVES:
 Relaxation
 Counselling &
psychotherapy
 Meditation
 Yoga
 Acupuncture
 Aromatherapy
 Biofeedback
 Homeopathy
 Hypnotherapy
 Osteopathy
 Religious
Therapy
 Reflexology

35. TAKING CARE OF YOUR STRESS IN COVID

36. MAINTAINING HYGEINE

37. MANAGING ONLINE CLASSES!!!
 Make sure to mute yourself if you’re
not talking on a video call.
 Keep your video call background
clean.
 Stay connected with your teacher or
professor.
 Pay attention to deadlines.
 Connect with other students.
 Make learning enjoyable.
 Try to take effective notes.
 Take breaks.
 Have a regular study space.
 Create a schedule.
 Put your phone away or turn it off
while doing classwork or homework.

38. WHEN TO TAKE
PROFESSIONAL HELP!!
 Unable to cope up with your
stress despite your best efforts.
 Chronic low mood, worry about
the future.
 Lost interest in your previously
hobbies.
 Feeling fatigued all the time.
 Decreased sleep.
 Severe anxiety, excessive
washing habits not at par with
the situation.
 Ideas of self-harm or Suicidal
Ideations.

41. THANK YOU