CDC: 75% of young adults surveyed are experiencing mental health burden due to pandemic

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — The mental affects caused by the pandemic continue to impact people in their daily lives.

One group most that's most affected is young adults, according to a recent report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

That survey was taken by more than 5,400 adults.

Nearly 75% of the young adults who participated said they had experienced at least one mental health symptom because of COVID-19.

College student Kendall Gilliam says the last few months of the pandemic have been taking a toll on him.

"The quarantine, and the social distancing, and the financial problems that come with it," he said. "Because like I said I lost my job, I got furloughed."

Gilliam says those challenges equal stress.

"It's hard enough trying to be a college student, and then trying to figure it out eating Top Ramen and drinking water and stuff," he said. "Then you have the disease that adds the pressure."

UNLV Associate Psychology Professor Stephen Benning says the separation caused by the virus can also weigh heavy on people.

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"Younger people are having to deal with being isolated with not having the social bonds that they expected, which I anticipate is creating both a sense of anxiety for them," he said.

Benning says there's also been more grief.

"Young people in the pandemic have graduations, first jobs, major romantic relationships, marriages, all of these things postponed, done away with in a way that we just haven't seen before," he said.

According the the CDC's report young adults were also more likely to consider suicide.

25.5 percent reported they had suicidal thoughts in the previous 30 days.

Irene Monique Machete, a mental health and addiction therapist with Thrive Therapy, says she's had more clients contacting her for help during the pandemic.

"They might find themselves, you know, using alcohol or drugs, a little bit more than they'd like," she said. "Or again not being able to get out and socialize or coordinate with family or friends, is starting to make them feel, you know, sleep a lot, or not able to sleep."

She advises young adults to find unique outlets, including therapy or other types of connections.

"They are very advanced in technology," said Machete. "So, you know, they are creative, and they can find ways to connect with family or friends."

Other groups more mentally affected by the pandemic according to the survey, are racial and ethnic minorities, essential workers and unpaid adult caregivers.