Preventing a COVID-19 youth mental health crisis

By Francis Vergunst and Nicholas Chadi, Healthy Debate, June 4, 2020

The strict lockdowns that have been implemented during the worst global pandemic in more than 100 years affect 99 per cent of the world’s children.  

While the movement restrictions are necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19, quarantine can have deleterious effects on psychological health and wellbeing and many countries have reported a deterioration in the mental health of their populations. Children and adolescents whose needs are frequently overlooked during times of crisis may be particularly vulnerable to the psychological consequences of the shutdown.

Children and adolescents are mostly spared from severe medical complications associated with COVID-19 infection but disruptions to school and social routines coupled with rapid brain development mean they are at increased risk of developing mental health problems. Read more