With 2021 well underway, many young women like myself are holding onto a thin thread of faith that this year will exude more positivity in all areas of our lives.
With the ongoing social and economic repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic and extended lockdown in Australia, it is important that we address the on all young people, and particularly, the gendered differences in mental health impacts for girls and young women.
Last year’s revealed the top three concerns for young Australians was coping with stress, mental health and body image. This result was unsurprising to me, as many of my conversations with friends and family concerning COVID-19 centred on the themes of stress, anxiety and ongoing or recurring trauma.
In my time as a youth advocate, I observed disproportionate impacts occurring for young women and girls as a result of necessary lockdowns and restricted movement.
Research by Plan International Australia suggests that for many, securing employment has been coupled with a struggle to maintain and increase familial responsibilities both during lockdowns and outside of lockdowns.
With young people more likely to be in work withand young women being greater represented , many have been left to precariously navigate insecure work.
The results from by Plan International Australia found that reduced access to vital information and resources regarding sexual and reproductive health care has meant increasing numbers of girls, young women and gender diverse folk, have had to navigate important developmental milestones without appropriate health and social connections.
One woman surveyed commented: “I want to go to the doctors to discuss significant pain I’m having during my period. But I’m not sure if I’m allowed or if the doctor will think less of me for using their time rather than those with COVID-19.”
have also widened the proximity to varying forms of violence (including domestic and online) for some young people or the recurring memory of past experiences with violence. These experiences can be significantly traumatic events and emotionally scarring – feeding into all aspects of girls and young women’s outlook on their future lives.
Extended lockdowns and restrictions have rocked my wellbeing immensely, Angelica Ojinnaka writes. Source: Supplied
In my own life, extended lockdowns and restrictions have rocked my wellbeing immensely. It has meant having to engage in remote learning, limited access to important cultural networks and increased concerns about infection. While also being a carer, the lockdown has resulted in increased anxiety and loneliness, which has been suffocating at times. The feeling is like being trapped in a maze of increasing worries and evaporating hopes about my future with no way out.
In addition to this all-pervading uncertainty, lockdown and isolation can further exacerbate existing social disadvantages that impact girls and young women’s overall health and wellbeing.
According to recent research, the pandemic has meant that girls and young women have to reconsider their economic, educational and social security, as well as adapt to educational strains and the pressure to maintain secure employment (or the dream of employment). I have had to consider whether my educational pathway will even amount to my desired long term goal – a choice that I am even privileged to have given many have lost all opportunities to further pursue education or employment as a result of ongoing changes throughout the pandemic.
I believe the overall deteriorating mental state of young people in Australia through COVID-19 lockdowns cannot be addressed without an intersectional lens. There is an increasing reliance on online, and other varied resources, for mental health support. I, myself, have used different forms of support throughout the pandemic. Although I have been able to gain access to supports with privilege that I have, I have been met with various barriers that have restricted my ability to use these supports as readily as I would like to. While we need to encourage the use of current and emerging supports and mental health treatment options, we must also seek to make these affordable and time-responsive for girls and young women to access.
During International Day of the Girl Child 2020, I joined fellow advocates in addressing the frequency and severity of online harassment.
This online world became vital in how I engaged with work, school, other extracurricular activities, maintain social relationships and supporting family overseas during traumatic times.
In my opinion, social media companies need to step up here, consult with girls and improve policy responses to reduce online harassment and its subsequent mental health impacts.
As we rapidly evaluate responses to the pandemic, girls and young women should not be ignored in the development of pragmatic mental health promotion strategies and treatment options. I often do not see myself and young people with diverse intersecting identities reflected in this process. Sadly, the lack of intersectional representation in mental health reform can potentially lead to inflexible and inappropriate mental health supports to accompany the growing need.
The trauma of ongoing and prolonged lockdown can make it difficult for many of us to feel any form of structure or certainty in our lives. In the long term, we need to look at how young people will be supported in the future labour market, and what mechanisms we can establish to secure their economic, social and health prosperity.
If we can get those policy settings right now, we will be in a stronger position to decrease the mental drainage of this pandemic in years to come.
Angelica Ojinnaka is a youth advocate for Plan International Australia
