Nottingham Psychologist on mental health of pandemic generation
Five years ago today schools and universities were forced to shut in response to the COVID-19 outbreak
Last updated 20th Mar 2025
Five years ago today, schools and universities across the East Midlands and the rest of the country were forced to shut in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Well new research by a mental health service running in Leicester and Nottingham - shows a whole generation is still struggling with the impacts - particularly with their mental health,
Nottingham Psychologist Dr Andrea Pickering says it's a big issue:
"Over 2 million young people between the ages of 18 to 25 have seen a decline in their mental health. So when we're looking at young women that's half of the sample reporting anxiety and depression that stems back to the pandemic, and a quarter of men are experiencing the same."
The subsequent disruption to education and the derailment of the lives of thousands of young people heralded a new time of increased uncertainty. Overnight, a new COVID generation was born.
New research commissioned by Clinical Partners, has found there's a lingering impact in the workplace, with over half of 18–25-year-olds experiencing increased anxiety in professional settings. When it comes to finding jobs, 40% agree that COVID held them back in their careers, with 38% suspecting that their qualifications earned during the pandemic have been undervalued by employers.
Dr Andrea added that it's a surprise to see:
"So when they were trying to get on the first runs of the ladder, trying to get on with their career development, that is when they were feeling this doubt and uncertainty about their skills. Also, there's this change in their social life, where they're feeling less connected to other young people as well as family members."
Socially, 31% of 18-25-year-olds say they have less of a social life since COVID and 23% feel disconnected from the person they were before lockdown. One in five still reflect on the key life experiences they missed due to the pandemic.
One in five young people say they have turned to smoking and vaping and one in ten have used alcohol as coping mechanisms for their mental health issues. Although 15% of young people have accessed therapy, barriers to seeking professional support include long waiting times, fear of judgement and uncertainty about where to turn.
Naturally, young people were not the only ones affected. When surveying the parents of the COVID generation, research has also found that 6 in 10 say that it was challenging to help their child adjust to the world after lockdown with just under 1 in 4 admitting a sense of guilt about the life experiences their child missed.