Being a teenager during COVID-19 Ages: 16 – 20

COVID-19 has brought sudden, massive global uncertainty that no one has seen before - right in the midst of your teenage years. These years are a period of huge development - connecting with your peers, learning about yourself through your relationships, navigating rapid changes in your body and brain, and at the same time thinking about studies and “what comes next”. And meanwhile… you’ve been in lockdown, emerging now - but will we have a “second spike”? - & the world has become this unsettled, socially distanced and restricted place. How long will this carry on for? How are you dealing with this disruption?

There is evidence that ‘bottling up’ fears and worries can niggle away at you, causing them to grow and change into something else. Here is a chance to do something constructive with those feelings, doubts and concerns.

Hopefully you have had some fun and happy times, and there will be positive things to celebrate. And also there’s probably been the other side of the coin as well...

What has it been like with your family? Have you been worried about your parents or family losing their jobs or becoming ill? Maybe relationships at home have been difficult...how have you coped, especially when you can't easily go out?

How about school? Was it cut short for you? How has it been without that structure in your day? Or have you been doing online schooling? How have you found that?

What has it been like living online? Do you worry you are ‘missing out’, that your friends may leave you out/forget you? Do you feel lonely at times? Or maybe the solitude has suited you - do you wonder if that is good or bad?

And what about your future plans and dreams now?

I look forward to meeting you at the workshop, where we will help you navigate through the impact of COVID-19