As the coronavirus pandemic has unfurled across the world, the public health crisis has brought with it considerable social and economic aftershocks, which may be felt disproportionately by populations which are likely to be left behind. Aside from the direct risks to physical health, the psychological impacts of COVID-19 also pose significant risks to mental-wellbeing as elevated levels of stress and anxiety are further exacerbated by the ongoing uncertainty of the situation. The discrimination and marginalization experienced by members of young key populations (YKPs) and young people living with HIV (YPLHIV) places them at heightened risk of experiencing mental health challenges during this time. National lockdowns, restricted movement and closure of non-formal education opportunities resulting in a lack of social engagement with peers and educators, may further aggravate feelings of loneliness, depression and anxiety in young key populations and young people living with HIV.
As countries across the Asia Pacific region gradually emerge from country-wide lockdowns as a result of the pandemic, it’s important that the experiences of young key populations and young people living with HIV are heard, in order to support local solutions that mitigate the impact of COVID-19. In response to the ongoing pandemic, The Interagency Task Team (IATT) on Young Key Populations in Asia and the Pacific launched a rapid response survey to assess information needs, medication on hand, and ability to access HIV services and support networks among young key populations and young people living with HIV from Asia and the Pacific region during the COVID-19 outbreak. The preliminary findings from the survey were discussed in a previous blog which provided an overview of the sociodemographic characteristics of respondents, their access to information, HIV prevention and treatment services, and access to other essential services.
Using the findings from the rapid response survey, this current blog focuses on the impact of COVID-19 on mental health and quality of life of young key populations and young people living with HIV in Asia and the Pacific.
Almost half of the respondents aged between 18 and 29 years, identify themselves as young men who have sex with men, 10% as young drug users, 10% as young transgender people, 6% as young sex workers and 5% as young migrants. Just over half of respondents identify themselves as young people living with HIV. In the context of COVID-19, 91% of respondents reported practicing social distancing, 60% in self-quarantine and 36% in complete lockdown.
Although it was not possible for the current survey to cover young people under the age of eighteen, it’s important to reflect on the fact that the findings of this survey may also likely apply to younger adolescents who are equally or at a higher risk of experiencing mental health challenges during this time.