ABSTRACT
Active patients at The First Episode Mood and Anxiety Program (FEMAP) were asked to participate in a study monitoring their symptoms during early COVID-19 closures. Participants were asked to predict both possible positive and feared outcomes of the pandemic. Responses were analyzed with a descriptive qualitative approach using thematic analysis. Primary feared outcomes included death, prolonged pandemic impacts, and concerns about employment, mental health, and education. Prevalent positive predictions included a new perspective, improved relationships, personal growth, and environmental improvement. These findings suggest the complex relationship between fear and hope for young people in the early stages of the pandemic.
Acknowledgments
The FEMAP Team includes: Elizabeth Osuch, Michelle Ngo, James Ross, Sarah Armstrong, Nicola McHale, Jonathan Gregory, Jennifer DelaPaz, Raquel Lopez, Ellen Annett, Pamela Dash, Michael Wammes, Jazzmin Demy, and Chlöe Carter.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).