Due to COVID-19, March 13 was the last normal day for many teens in Lexington. Between the stress of uncertainty and being stuck inside for months, it’s only normal to see a change in teens’ mental health. At an age where interaction with peers is considered a necessity, many teens are struggling.

“The school year definitely affected how I feel about quarantine. Before school started I was out all day, every day,” freshman Joanne Joseph said. “Now I’m inside all day, and I hate it.”

In late April, the Youth Liberty Squad & ACLU of SoCal conducted a survey on student mental health during COVID. In the survey, 86.8% of students responded that they were stressed and worried over things like too much schoolwork, not being able to socialize, and taking care of their family.

Some Dunbar students can relate.

“I struggle with depression already and being isolated in my house caused my mental health to go very downhill,” sophomore Emma Hatcher said. “I can barely get any work done.”

Other students, however, are adapting.

“The lockdown actually affected my mental health in a good way,” Joseph said.

Starting the first semester online could be another reason for stress or change how people view our situation.

“At first I hated quarantine, but now it’s okay since everything is organized school-wise,” sophomore Amee Carlisle said.