Young people are worried about Delta’s impact — but is anyone listening?

During the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, anxiety levels among young Australians rose sharply. At that time, there was massive disruption to schools, higher education, workplace-based training and casual and part-time employment. That sat alongside forced separation from those critical social relationships that are central to the emotional and cognitive development of young people. 

While initially there was also some considerable health anxiety among young people, that quickly settled as it became clear that those who were at greatest risk of death or severe illness were largely older Australians. Many young people, except for those who lived through Victoria’s 112-day lockdown, were able to return to at least the more basic social and educational aspects of their lives.

But with the arrival of the Delta variant — and given its degree of infectiousness, likely direct health impacts on young people and repeated hard lockdowns — are we now headed into another very difficult period for the mental health of young people? 

Has the sudden and unexpected death of a young woman in Sydney this week from the virus and the ever-increasing documentation of the long-term cognitive and psychological impacts of COVID-19 infection — called long-COVID — tipped the scales from relative complacency to much-heightened anxiety about personal safety and risk of harm?

Overseas reports on long COVID highlight the degree to which there is considerable ongoing ill-health in at least one in five of those infected, and that this appears to be the case even in those who did not experience a severe initial illness or were hospitalised with the infection. As with other past epidemics, this prolonged morbidity appears to be more common in relatively young people. 

Judging by the commentary of young people about lack of access to the preferred “lowest-risk” Pfizer vaccine, the lack of effective public messaging about the risk-benefit calculations for those under 30, and the necessity of now accepting another prolonged period of social isolation, it’s a fair bet to say young people will once again become more anxious and distressed. 

Many young people are annoyed they are not a priority target for public policy considerations. On the health front, the message is largely “just stay at home” — assuming that all young people have a suitable place to live, study or work. Economically, policies seem to assume young people have other income or family assets, and that there is only a need for minimal financial support. 

On the critical social front, all community activities that are relevant (team sports, entertainment, performances, creative arts) are off. As for those critical intimate and peer relationships, the message is simply “don’t engage with anyone outside your family”.

The theme of “we are all in this together” is not very evident to young people. In fact, there is quite a lot of finger-pointing at young people, now often being identified as those most likely to spread the virus. 

On the vaccination front, young people appear to be at the end of the line (assuming there is some orderly process under way for meeting our national needs). While preventing deaths initially among older people was a clear priority in Australia, other nations have recognised the need to provide safe and effective vaccines to young people and that for everyone to resume some “normal enough” daily life, a very high proportion of those aged over 12 will need to be vaccinated. In due course, immunisation of children will also need to be considered. 

Mental health considerations, and the need to provide effective services for many of those who cannot afford the high out-of-pocket costs of psychological care, are generally met with directions to a helpline, a website or a long waiting list for any consultation. Many who have been in contact with primary care services have been encouraged not to attend, given the dangers of contracting the virus.

So right now young people are worried about their immediate physical health, their long-term mental health and whether any of those leading this country are actually listening to their genuine concerns. 

Professor Ian Hickie is co-director of health and policy at the Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney.