“COVID-19 und die Psyche – Auswirkungen der Pandemie auf die mentale Gesundheit der jungen Generationen”

COVID-19 대유행이 인간의 건강에 미치는 영향에 대한 논의에선 그에 따른 직접적 결과뿐 아니라 간접적 결과도 함께 고려되어야 한다. COVID-19은 장기 후유증(Post-Covid-Syndrom)이나 아동들에게 나타나는 소아 다기관 염증 증후군(PIMS-Syndrom)과 같은 직접적 건강상의 피해뿐 아니라 우리의 정신건강에도 중대한 피해를 주는 것으로 드러나고 있기 때문이다. 이러한 정신적 피해에 특히 아동과 청년들이 가장 막심한 노출되어 있다. 이는 불가피하게 제한된 사회활동이 아동 및 청년들의 발육과정에 광범위한 결과를 초래하고 있기 때문이다. 그 예시로 팬데믹이 부모나 양육권자에게 초래한 다방면의 과도한 압박이 아동 및 청년층에 대한 육체적, 정신적 학대에 대한 위험으로 이어지는 것을 들 수 있다. 이에 따른 결과로 젊은 층에서 정신적, 심리적 이상 증후가 증가하고 있다. 이 외에 사회적 불평등 또한 심화되고 있다. 예를 들어 빈곤가정의 젊은 여성과 아동들 같은 사회적 관계가 그들의 발달과정에 가장 절실히 필요한 이들이 팬데믹의 부정적 영향에 특히 심하게 노출되고 있다. 소통의 대체방안으로 사용되는 소셜미디어 역시 실제 인간상호관계를 대체하기에는 무리가 있다. 이에 따라 정신적 부담을 완화하고 궁극적으로 이를 예방차원에서 대응하기 위한 사회 포괄적인 접근이 필요하다. 이를 위해선 젊은 세대의 정신건강에 관한 담론이 정치권에서 더 비중 있게 다루어져야 한다. 최종적으로 적합한 방안을 찾고 적절한 조치를 취하기 위해선 논의 과정에서 의료시설과 관련된 모든 행위자의 참여가 필요하다.

When discussing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on public health, it is important to consider not only the direct consequences, but also the indirect effects. In addition to aspects such as the Post-Covid-Syndrome (Long-Covid) or the PIMS-Syndrome (especially affecting children), there are serious effects on mental health as well. Children and adolescents tend to be the most affected. Necessary restrictions in social life have far-reaching effects on the developmental processes of young people. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic exposes existing economic or social inequalities in our society. For example, the multi-layered demands and overburdens of the crisis on parents and guardians increase the risk of physical and emotional abuse among children and adolescents. As a result, mental and psychosomatic disorders are increasing among the younger generation. Furthermore, social inequalities are widening. Thus, young women and children from poverty-stricken families are most likely to suffer the negative consequences of the pandemic. Moreover, the social relationships of those who need them the most for their own personal development suffer. And alternative communication via social media is no substitute for „real“ interpersonal relationships. A society-wide approach is needed to reduce mental burdens and, if possible, to counteract them preventively. To achieve this, more importance has to be assigned to the mental health of young people, especially at the political level. However, in order to finally develop adequate solutions and take appropriate measures, the participation of all stakeholders in the health care system is required.