You’re Here for Them, We’re “Here 4 U”

One of my two teenage daughters called 2020 “the year of total disappointment.” Like young people around the world, she and her sister have missed cherished activities and opportunities like sports, graduations, proms, trips, internships and on and on. These are real losses, experienced even by those lucky enough to not have been directly affected by COVID-19.

We’ll be studying the impact of the pandemic on young adults for years. Their need to connect is so strong; to say they’ve been “unplugged” and robbed of vital energy is a good metaphor (even though they are literally plugged into devices more than ever).

The picture that has emerged so far is bleak: We know from recent research that people in their 20s are now the loneliest age group[1]. A CDC survey found that symptoms of mental illness were much higher in the U.S. during the spring of 2020, compared with the same time period in 2019. A full 60% of young people reported feeling anxious or depressed. Most disturbingly, the percentage of respondents who said they had seriously considered suicide in the past month was 25% higher in 2020 among respondents 18-24 years old[2].

The CDC points to changes in routine, employment and educational challenges, breaks in routine health care, missing significant life events, and a loss of security and safety as underlying factors contributing to this crisis[3].

CVS Health conducted our own national pulse poll in August of last year. What we found is similarly eye-opening:

• 69% of young people are afraid of the pandemic's effects on a friend or family member's health.
• 65% are feeling increased isolation.
• 62% are worried about their own health.
• 52% are sleeping worse.
• More than a quarter say they're under significantly more stress than this time last year, and more than a third under somewhat more stress.

I’ve seen my own daughters lose hope, and it brought on a horrible and helpless feeling in me as a parent. What can we do to help ease young people’s suffering?

As much as we want to connect with the young people in our lives, we know they prefer to connect with one another. Our survey found that 56% of young adults said that more discussions amongst peers on social media about mental health would ease stigma, while 60% said that close friends sharing that they spoke with a mental health professional would do so.

That’s why Aetna, a CVS Health company, recently held the latest iteration of its new peer support program, Here 4 U. It offered free online peer support sessions led by qualified experts, as well as free access to useful mental health resources. We wanted to help young adults understand how to use the mental health system and navigate to the right level of care through benefits and community programs.

And we found that Here 4 U was a refreshing departure from adults telling young people what to do. When brought together, this population was not just willing to be open about the issues they were facing, but more importantly, used the opportunity to uplift one another – people they had just met! - by listening and sharing new strategies to cope. They described journaling as an effective self-care strategy, the value of new hobbies and community service to build resilience and how to focus on the most important connections to persevere through the pandemic.

As a parent who is juggling work and family in this unprecedented circumstance, I have to keep reminding myself that I’m not alone. I also keep reminding my kids that what they are experiencing now is a snapshot in time and not a sign of what’s ahead for them. But learning how to ask for help and how to uplift others are lifelong skills that can build resilience. We should encourage them to develop them now, and continue to provide opportunities to assist.

[1] https://www.psychiatrist.com/JCP/article/Pages/predictors-of-loneliness-by-age-decade.aspx

[2] https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6932a1.htm

[3] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/parental-resource-kit/young-adulthood.html