Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health of Youths in Nigeria: The Counselors Intervention Strategy

In late December, 2019, patients diagnosed with viral pneumonia due to an unidentified microbial agent were reported in Wuhan, China. A novel coronavirus was subsequently identified as the causative pathogen, provisionally named 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). As at November 10, 2020, confirmed cases had reached an alarming 50,994,215 with a global death toll of 1,264,077    from 2019-nCoV infections, most of which involved people living in or visiting countries with high rate of prevalence and thus increasing the human-to-human transmission. A random sampling of 150 inmates in a Psychiatric clinic revealed that the advent of the COVID 19 pandemic in Nigeria left many youths stressed up, depressed, traumatized with excited state of anxiety leading to mental health challenges and some of which  resort to committing suicide.The post COVID 19 era plunged many youths into joblessness. Many youths who were into artisans and gainfully employed with private outfits and organizations such as private schools lost their jobs (20.67%) due to the COVID 19 disease outbreak which shut down schools, businesses and government. The state of joblessness of the youths in the current post COVID 19 era has further affected the mental health of some of the youths in Nigeria. Absence of government palliatives (4.00%), ASUU Strike (3.33%), High level of poverty, isolation, Sicknesses (13.33%), High level of Despondency, Loss of accommodation (16.67%), Inflation (increased prices of food and other items), Increased transportation cost, Persistent lockdown, Social unrest, High level of insecurity (17.33%), Security personnel brutality and Increase crime rates. The counselor’s intervention strategy should focus on helping the youths with poor mental health due to COVID 19 to regain self- confidence, regain self –esteem, seek medical attention for them, canvass for free medication for affected ones, create awareness on job opportunity for them, engage governments on behalf of the youths for employment opportunities as well as giving them palliatives, reopening of schools/universities and linking them to credit facilities, social safety nets and other available opportunities.