2020 certainly didn’t make things easy for young adult workers. COVID-19, an uncertain economy, racial tensions, and a divisive presidential election that led to riots and deaths have all taken a toll on mental health, particularly among younger adults. “Most of us think about coping with the loss of a loved one, but this past year, [younger] individuals also had to deal with the loss of important events, such as graduation, and a way of life, such as the inability to gather with social networks or go to the gym. What people used to be able to cope with in the past with normal coping strategies just isn’t working now, and they need a higher level of support,” said Meghan Stokes, a licensed clinical social worker and vice president of clinical services with BHS, a Baltimore-based company offering workplace wellness and EAPs.
