Opinion | An entire generation cries out for a solution Israel today

The mental challenge that the corona crisis brought with it indiscriminately affected adults, adolescents and children.

However, it is undisputed that adolescent adolescents experience the crisis in the most severe way and the consequences for them are of great concern to parents and of course to educators and welfare workers.

A report by the Elam Association published in recent days reveals a severe deterioration in the emotional and physical condition of teenagers during the epidemic, and shows a sharp increase in the extent of violence and drug and alcohol use, even for those who have not yet tended to use these substances.

Adolescence is known as one of the most challenging and turbulent periods in the developmental stages of a person. It is not for nothing that many theorists call it the "period of the storm and the eruption." Beyond the tumultuous hormonal storm in the adolescent body that causes urgent and extreme changes in moods, the whole being of the period is rebellion, curiosity, risk-taking, urge to change and explore the world, belonging to a peer group and separating from parents. It is clear that these characteristics are difficult to express in the corona routine, in which the real and mental boundaries of us all have been greatly reduced. For the adolescent, the same reduction is equivalent to life imprisonment.

The behavior of the youth can now be seen across a two-ended sequence.

At one end - a dramatic increase (compared to 2019) in isolation, loneliness, persistent depression, decreased self-esteem, a sense of mental well-being and sometimes even severe damage to body image and its dangerous consequences.

At the other end - boredom, meaninglessness and a strong urge to vent and release that seeks its way out.

Hence the short cut to addictive substances, alcohol consumption, obsessive porn watching and other risky behaviors.

The state of stress has a severe effect and can have serious consequences for a normal adolescent and also for an adolescent at risk.

But when it comes to a "normal" adolescent, we expect the family and educational home front to be strong and supportive, to help maintain a daily routine and most importantly to provide resources for building "mental resilience."

Youth at risk do not have the family home front, nor is there a significant adult to turn to and share the existing helplessness.

For this reason, the road to mental and emotional crash becomes particularly short.

To deal with those difficult impacts, our response as significant adults - parents, educators and caregivers - must be present, stable and clear.

We must help adolescents contain the situation, stay with them in the frustrating situation on the one hand, and on the other hand provide them with practical tools for coping and returning to emotional balance.

Clear boundaries must also be set and a supervised daily routine built, as well as creative solutions to their emotional and social needs.

It is important to remember that the behavior of "normative" adolescents can also deteriorate in a state of continuous lack of routine, with the boundaries of freedom closing in on us.

That is, the adolescents of us all are in danger.

Although our emotional tank is also overflowing, we must find resources and strength as we grow older.

Educators and welfare workers are now called to the flag, both in the care and inclusion of adolescents and their parents, and in the development of community responses to strengthen mental resilience.

Otherwise, we will all face the consequences of the corona crisis on youth for years to come.

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