We have all been under pressure during the Coronavirus pandemic that causes the potentially fatal disease covid-19.

Just under 1 million people have died from this disease and we hear of a resurgence of the virus within different national populations. The disruption to life around the world has been profound, with the impact of bereavements, poverty, economic hardship, people not being able to work in certain sectors like the airline industry and children not being able to go to school for several months.

The pressures of 2020 and the uncertainty facing the future, are natural sources of anxiety for the young people. How does this relate to depression in young people?

Over the last six months many young people have been disconnected from seeing friends, teachers and coaches in the flesh. The have resorted to contact on line and have not been able to go out regularly or as freely as before. Some have coped well with adjusting to a new routine, but others have struggled with the isolation.

This context enables anxiety to work on some young people and their parents to a crippling nature. To an extent where the young person cannot go out and cannot make goals for the future and cannot get into school. Their specific thoughts which generate anxiety linked with peer rejection and uncertainty about the future in the world beset by viral pandemic, lead to depressive thinking and suicidal ideation in some young people. Hopelessness and low self esteem then come into play.

Not everyone goes through this process. We all have to be aware of how anxiety encroaches in our lives at this time. Anxiety can disabled us and lead to depression.

We may feel trapped by the impact of Coronavirus on our society and the limitations imposed in work and school. We may feel a righteous anger about our specific situation, arising from feeling trapped.

This anger allied to the anxiety described can intensify the depressive experience for a young person, especially if they are not sleeping at night and feel exhausted and lacking in motivation.

At present, how many young people are in this state. The actual number may be unknown, and may exceed the 3% of young people who have severe depression at any one time.

Consequently self help in terms of strategies to relax and minimise the impact of anxiety are with considering. Exercise, good sleep and diet are essential. Doing the basics well in sticking to a routine and being organised about work.

It is important to be aware of anger and manage it safely, ideally through channelling into physical exertion such as running.

Overcoming negative emotions with positive ones is vital. Cultivating gratitude and joy and sympathetic understanding of others, each day can transform our approach to each day.

In the end the great challenge in a changing world and family, is to find peace in our life each day.