NEW YORK CITY- Aya Raji from Brooklyn was a very active and social high school student before the pandemic hit New York especially hard in the spring. Remote learning turned many students into completely new people through the loneliness and intense news updates every night. Students were relieved to hear that schools would be opening again in the fall. But, with social distancing rules, hybrid classes and no after school activities, connecting with peers is still difficult. With rising cases across the country, it is hard to know if K-12 students will be returning to in-person instruction following winter break.

The mental health impact on teenagers has been severe and long lasting. Research shows that teenagers depend on friends to manage mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. A study of 3,300 students showed that 1 in 3 teens reported feeling depressed in recent months. Social media is seemingly not allowing a sense of connection through this time as many thought it would.

Parents are cautioned with looking for warning signs of severe mental illnesses. Children's emergency room visits caused by mental health issues have spiked since the beginning of the pandemic. The psychological effects of lockdowns and social distancing have had grave effects on the youth of the country. Experts also warn about the long term effects of teenagers who have had to deal with financial strain from parents losing their jobs, losing family members and more

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