The term “young” refers to individuals between the ages of 15 and 29. This is a very stressful and vulnerable period where they grow up, change, and form. During the covid-19 epidemic, young people were more exposed to stress than they were before. The world they knew no longer existed; their world was turned upside down overnight. In this master’s thesis, we studied the impact of the covid-19 epidemic on the mental health of the young. With the help of two measuring instruments: Generalized Anxiety Disorder - GAD-7 and Patient Health Questionnaire Modified for Teens – PHQ-9, on a sample of 166 participants, we quantitatively examined feelings of anxiety and depression in young people during the covid-19 epidemic. With the help of twenty structured interviews, we used a qualitative method to look for the impact of the epidemic on individuals every day. We delved into the family environment, distance learning, social contacts, social networks, and coping with feelings of anxiety. We found that during the covid-19 epidemic, cannabis use increased, and the time spent by young people studying or going to school decreased. Those who spent more time studying or going to school also experienced more anxiety and depression. Most interviewees reported feeling lonely during the outbreak, which is consistent with single individuals experiencing more feelings of anxiety and depression. Simultaneously, loneliness may also be linked to an increase in the time spent on social networks, as young people were only able to keep in touch with their friends and classmates online. Although the young were in distress, they did not seek help but developed their own coping mechanisms (new hobbies, computer games, sports). Despite the increase in conflict, young people felt safe in their home environment.
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