Abstract:
This study utilizes current evidence to review the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak on
the mental health of adolescents in China. This dissertation is divided into two perspectives. Firstly,
based on the literature on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescents' mental health in
China, a systematic review has been conducted to understand the current evidence of adolescents'
mental health in China and investigate the positive and negative effects of the pandemic. The aim
was to examine high-quality research that provided insights into strategies to address Chinese
adolescents' mental health consequences due to the pandemic. This study reveals that although the
COVID-19 pandemic conditions have had some positive factors contributing to the mental health of
Chinese adolescents, overall, the mental health problems (such as anxiety and depression) of
Chinese adolescents are on the rise. These findings have important implications for health
professionals, policymakers, Chinese school leaders, teachers, and parents. The second part of the
study utilizes critical discourse analysis to critically evaluate the government policy supporting
adolescents' mental health during the pandemic. The study explains the Chinese government's
official position on adolescent mental health. The results reveal that the Chinese government policy
is not responding to the mental health needs of Chinese adolescents. The Chinese government needs
to recognize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in China and introduce
policies to strengthen mental health support for adolescents during pandemic conditions when
normal social structures are disrupted.
