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Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted populations internationally, through infections and consequences of infections, and by the countermeasures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Concerns exist surrounding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of youths in the Netherlands. Consequently, we studied quarterly trends and risk factors of suicidal ideation among Dutch youths from September 2021 onwards. Method: The Network GOR-COVID-19, a research group consisting of different organizations, monitors the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on population health. As one element of this monitoring, quarterly data collections have been undertaken since September 2021 from a panel of youths (12 – 25 years of age) representative of the Dutch population. Online questionnaires collect data on self-reported health and wellbeing. We analyzed a selection of demographic, social activity, and mental health variables as potential risk factors for self-reported suicidal ideation in the previous three months. We assessed trends, performed longitudinal analyses, and conducted logistic and random forest regressions per quarterly round of data collection. Analyses were weighted for age, sex, educational level, and province where appropriate. Results: Approximately 4,500 youths participated in each quarterly questionnaire, with some participating more than once. Results showed substantial increases in self-reported suicidal ideation during and immediately after the third lockdown in the Netherlands in December 2021, rising from 9% to 17%, then slowly decreasing to 16% in May/June 2022, and to 13% in September 2022. In all multivariable analyses variables relating to mental health were indicated as risk factors. The strongest associations were seen in those experiencing mental health complaints and loneliness. Demographic variables were not strongly associated with suicidal ideation. Conclusion: The monitoring conducted by The Network GOR-COVID-19 enables the tracking of trends in the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of Dutch youths in The Netherlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Internationally, COVID-19 has impacted populations because of both infections and measures to prevent the spread of the virus. The pandemic's long-term social and psychological effects on the Dutch population were studied. Method: The GOR-COVID-19 health monitor1 includes quarterly measurements among youth (12- to 24-year-olds) and adult (25 and older) panels. The measurements of June and September 2022 included the open-ended question, 'In your life at this moment, do you still feel the effects of the corona pandemic from the last 2.5 years?' The first author qualitatively analyzed the responses (7.171 in total) through descriptive coding. A team member did a co-coder reliability check. Results: In the questionnaire, various people name positive effects of the pandemic, such as being able to spend time alone or feeling more confident. However, many respondents describe how the pandemic negatively affected their social life, mental health, personal development, financial situation, and perception of society. People who experienced life transitions show vulnerability to social isolation while working and learning online because they missed the opportunity to establish a new social network. Among them are young people who started secondary school, university, or their first job during the pandemic. The youth also often describe having difficulty with social interaction, feeling they have 'unlearned' to be in large groups or interact with strangers. Older generations, in contrast, comment on their own continued cautiousness. Conclusion: After years of pandemic, fear of contamination and social distancing measures have impacted society and individuals. The findings raise the question, 'How will the experience of a pandemic continue to shape society and, in particular, what will be the lasting effects on the social networks and mental health of generation Z?' 1 See Integrated GOR-COVID-19 health monitor and The Dutch GOR-Covid-19 health monitor, both in the European Journal of Public Health (2022) 32:3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]