Young people vulnerable from ‘huge milestone losses’

As young people struggle with university shutdowns, moving out of home in uncertain times and shelving those big 18th and 21st birthday party plans, a leading Brisbane psychologist has created a fabulous list of tips, ideas and strategies to help young people dealing with the COVID-19 crisis.

Young people are learning to adapt to major changes as COVID-19 restrictions affect universities, colleges and socialising. Photo istock.

Young people are getting a rubbishing for not social distancing and are often branded selfish but a leading Brisbane psychologist says young people need support more than ever as the crisis clashes with moves towards independence.

Nundah Village Family Practice Clinical and Counselling psychologist Dr Karla Johnston said the challenges for young people were significant “particularly when having got to the point of independence,” the world had changed “so dramatically”.

“Being innocently blamed just makes us all feel angry,” she said.

“This is a time to show understanding by not jumping to conclusions because you never know what is going on in someone else’s life or why they behave in certain ways.”

“You don’t know what is going on at home. This is definitely a time to ask and listen and then we can all find solutions that are safe, compassionate and helpful.”

“Many young people I talk to are taking the precautions very seriously and are influencing their own families to do the same.”

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Dr Johnston said young people preparing to celebrate “special personal events like 18ths, 21st birthdays and graduations” would experience “huge milestone losses in terms of celebration”.

“We all need to try and find a way to celebrate these successes and think of creative ways to ensure a young person knows they matter,” Dr Johnston said.

Birthday celebrations have to be re-imagined under COVID-19 restrictions. Photo istock.

Dr Johnston said at the start of 2020 many young people were also preparing for university, transitioning to the workforce and for many moving out of home or away from home for study and work.

Dr Karla Johnston. Pic Andrea Macleod

“This is such a challenging time for young people and the losses are significant given the unknown,” Dr Johnston said.

“It can feel similar to a grief reaction as they are coping with a lot of loss and might find themselves feeling a range of emotions at different times including shock, numbness, denial, anger, fear, anxiety, depression and guilt.”

“But it’s important to remember we are all in this together, things will get better and our world will change for the better.”

“This is our chance to learn from our mistakes and realise we need to look after each other and the environment … young people can tell us how we can change.”

She said now was a good time for young people to think about “writing creeds, codes and policy” focused on “how to move this forward”.

Dr Johnston said young people were good at engaging with technology and needed to ensure they accessed exercise, mindfulness, relaxation and meditation apps on line as well as help when needed.

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Young people need to support to adapt to COVID-19 changes to socialising and celebrations. Photo istock.

Dr Johnston’s 20 Tips for Young People to Handle COVID-19

1. They can access psychologists online, bulk billed, talk to your GP via telehealth

2. Adopt a pet - if practical or help someone else care for theirs

3. Continue to exercise inside - youtube videos; hire equipment, and try to get outside to walk and feel fresh air on your face

4. Stay focused on today, in other words stay in the present - access apps on mindfulness, relaxation, meditation

5. Think about what you can control (not what you cannot) e.g. learn a language, instrument, learn to sing

6. Remind yourself this is a moment in time and it will pass – hope is what we’ve always had to get us through trying times

7. Listen to music if it helps you to connect to your feelings and validates your feelings

8. Make tik tok videos - make them fun and send them out to the world - cheers everyone up

9. Think about the ways you can help others in our community even by calling someone - reach out/shout out

10. Think about three ways you can be kind to others and yourself every single day

11. Write about your experiences - one day they will become part of history

12. Self-expression is critical - draw, paint, create, lego – pull out any activities you have at home that you haven’t thought about in a while!

13. Read about other times in history where humans have survived horrific times and survived with imagery and other clever mental techniques

14. Use Pinterest to read quotes and feel inspired, find courage and strength – make your own Pinterest board and share with your friends

15. Keep dreaming about a wonderful future – talk about it, write about it, dance about it

16. Reframe this time as space from the intensity of the world - time to off load, de load (clean out stuff) - donate to others in need

17. Learn about self-compassion - lots of resources online - practise it with yourself and others

18. Watch comedies - laughing is essential to our mental wellbeing – even smiling will make you feel better due to our biofeedback mechanism – peace begins with a smile

19. Beautify - even if you are not going anywhere - paint your nails, massage your hands, condition your hair, dress up for dinner – if that’s your thing!

20. Use Progressive Muscle Relaxation exercises to remind yourself you are in control of increasing and decreasing stress in your body –examples on line.