British Columbians ages 18 to 30 most affected by pandemic, need support: BCCDC report
British Columbia’s young adults are most likely to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, due to layoffs, restrictions and lost job opportunities, according to a detailed new report from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control.
The agency released “Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Health and Well-Being of Young Adults in British Columbia” on Friday, outlining the challenges faced by those ages 18 to 30, as well as recommendations for supports.
“Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and the measures stemming from efforts to control it, have had significant and deleterious impacts on many areas of young adults’ lives,” noted the authors. “Those who may be subject to additional pressures include racialized groups, LGBTQ2S+ individuals, and young adults with disabilities.”
The report was commissioned by one of the province’s top health officials.
"Unlike COVID-19, which can be measured on a dashboard – we report on it every day – these can go hidden and it is our responsibility in a pandemic response to look more deeply and make sure every consequence of what we do is measured,” said deputy provincial health officer Dr. Reka Gustafson. "This is a really important stage in life where you establish your family or meet that person. This is when you become an individual. This is when you establish many of your educational and employment trajectories."
She said young adults were also more likely to lose their jobs and have their post-secondary education – and therefore future career prospects – disrupted, along with financial strain and concern for the future.
The conclusions include findings from national and international studies, but rely heavily on two “COVID-19 Speak Surveys” done by B.C. health officials, which asked people to describe how the pandemic has impacted their lives. The report is an in-depth look at the social impacts of the pandemic, separate and distinct from analysis of who was most vulnerable to death or severe illness from the virus.
CONTRAST TO PREMIER’S ‘DON’T BLOW IT’ COMMENTS
Premier John Horgan enraged young adults in the spring when he urged them not to “blow it for the rest of us” by acting selfishly and being the top demographic for COVID-19 infections.
The study’s authors point out that, while their infection rate is double the provincial average, adults aged 18 to 30 were also more likely to work frontline jobs that can’t be done from home, are more likely to live in close quarters with roommates, and reported the highest rates of mental health concerns.
“Many of the activities we restricted actually were essential for the lives of young adults,” said Gustafson. “Some of the things highlighted in our report affect every young adult and I think that's really important."
When CTV News noted that much of the criticism of young adults came from adults with established careers – often living in homes with yards – who were able to weather the restrictions and self-isolate with less impact on their lives, Gustafson agreed. She said that’s why governments, employers and institutions of all kinds need to realize how much of their relatively young lives were put on hold and offer financial, educational and mental health supports.
"Alcohol and cannabis consumption have increased, there's been significant social isolation, very significant disruption in isolation and employment," she said, adding that there was plenty of struggle and suffering to go around, especially for parents of young children.
“There was significant stress, especially during school closures and loss of daycare during that first wave of the pandemic,” she added. “We tried to mitigate that as much as possible.”
Gustafson added that few older teens and 20-somethings are at the decision-making table, so she felt it was important to raise issues affecting them and call for a special focus on those issues, including employment, training opportunities, debt loads, educational impacts, mental health and emotional disruptions.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Police investigating shooting outside of Drake's Bridle Path mansion: source
Toronto police are investigating a shooting that took place outside of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion early Tuesday morning, a source tells CP24.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Quebec to limit sperm donations per donor after 3 men from same family father hundreds of children
Quebec is looking at tightening the regulations around sperm donation in the province following the release of a documentary that revealed three men from the same family fathered hundreds of children.
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Highlights from the 2024 Met Gala exhibit: Sleeping Beauty would wake up for these gowns
Sure, she was a royal princess and all. But there’s no way Sleeping Beauty — either before or after her nap — ever had quite the fabulous wardrobe that’s been assembled at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.