Collateral Damage: The Mental Health Effects of the Pandemic

August 1, 2021
Grades 7-10 This well-sourced book explores the effects the COVID-19 pandemic has had on mental health so far. It has caused individuals to become isolated and lonely, which can result in increased anxiety and other issues. The book discusses the financial worries associated with job loss and food insecurity, and according to the Brookings Institution, this financial hardship has disproportionately affected Black and Hispanic households, compared to white households. Substance abuse is also addressed, with participants in a September 2020 Rand Corporation study reporting they were drinking more during the pandemic and experiencing more harmful effects like "taking unnecessary risks or hurting their family due to their drinking." The pandemic's effect on young people's mental health is examined, as are mental-health threats to essential workers and the grief experienced by those who lost loved ones. Each chapter includes individuals' stories, supporting statistics, and helpful coping strategies. Color photos, source notes, and lists of helpful organizations and resources (all books written for teens) supplement the text. A useful and timely overview of mental-health issues associated with COVID-19.

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