Even after the corona virus, the situation of many of the students continues to be dire: the feeling of satisfaction with life among the youth has decreased significantly in the past year and the proportion of students who reported mental distress jumped from about 25% before the outbreak of the epidemic to 32%.
The alarming figures are based on a study in which approximately 2,700 students from the 6th, 8th and 10th grades took part, which is part of an international study by the World Health Organization, supported by the Ministry of Education.
The examination showed, among other things, that among girls, especially in the Jewish sector, there is a high rate of female students who report mental distress, physical symptoms and a feeling of loneliness.
In all indicators of mental and physical well-being, it is evident that the students of the Jewish sector reported more difficult feelings compared to the Arab sector.
A high proportion of female students reporting mental distress, physical symptoms and a feeling of loneliness.
School, illustration, photo: Herzi Shapira
Also, it seems that the corona has fascinated the students to screens even more, among other things because of Zoom classes.
As a result, many of them developed a problematic usage pattern.
problematic users
According to the study, among all students there is a significant increase in the proportion classified as problematic users of social media.
The rate of girls reporting problematic use of social media also increased significantly compared to 2019.
Also, the lack of frameworks and the tensions caused in many homes due to the parents' loss of livelihood, led to an increase in the use of addictive substances.
Among all students there is a significant increase in the proportion classified as problematic users of social media.
According to the study, in most indicators of the use of addictive substances, an increasing trend in consumption is evident with age, and boys consume more than girls.
Of particular concern is the significant jump in the proportion of young people who report excessive drinking at least once a month - which rose from about 7% before the outbreak of the epidemic to 14% after the return to the frameworks in 2022.
Moreover, compared to previous years, in the year of the current survey there is an increase in cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption and drunkenness.
However, there is a slight decrease in the proportion of students using cannabis.
An encouraging statistic that emerged from the sample is that in the year of the survey there was a moderate decrease in the proportion of those involved in violent incidents.
The decrease in the dimensions of violence exists mainly in Arab society.
In addition, the end of distance learning with the passing of the corona led to a decrease in the dimensions of cyberbullying - from 16.8% in 2021, to 9.9% in 2022.
Minister of Education, MK Yoav Kish: "Research is important.
It will take years of work to deal with the damage of the epidemic."
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