How a Pandemic Affects Childhood Mental Health
Image Credit: “Bored kids” by Martin Thomas is licensed under CC2.0.
Pandemic Childhood Mental Health
America is in the midst of a mental health crisis. The coronavirus is a traumatic time for all of us, affecting many areas of our health – childhood mental health is no exception. Although youngsters are minimally susceptible to the coronavirus disease, they are hit hardest by the psychological impact of this pandemic.
Kids who haven’t been infected by the virus themselves are still experiencing rash lifestyle changes, social isolation, and a number of different fears stemming from the pandemic.
Children thrive when they are in a safe, predictable, and protected environment. The fulfillment of their essential human needs and the quality of their social connections have a significant impact on their development.
The pandemic has caused the majority of businesses, schools, and recreational centers to be shut down. According to a UNICEF study in 186 countries worldwide, 99% of all children under 18 live in countries that have enforced movement restriction policies to contain the spread of COVID-19.
These unexpected measures to contain the virus are disrupting nearly every aspect of adolescent’s lives. They’re falling behind in their social development and education. They’re entertaining themselves with video games and TV instead of exercising and socializing with friends.
According to a June 2020 study by the American Psychological Association, 71% of parents have noticed negative impacts on their children stemming from changes related to the pandemic:
Coping With the Stress
Children can experience many negative behavioral changes caused by the stress of these changes.
Their parents are stressed out; they’re not getting enough outdoor activity; they’re not eating a healthy diet; they’re not sleeping enough. The global economy has entered a massive recession, causing parents to lose their jobs and sources of income. Families are struggling to buy food and are at risk of losing their homes. Overarching all of these problems is the fear of losing a loved one to the virus itself.
The uncertainty and fear caused by the pandemic have threatened children’s sense of security like never before. Uncertainty and changes from their normal routine can cause behavior changes stemming from agitation, anger, distress, and impatience for things to get back to normal.
Most children are still developing their emotional skills, so they may not possess strong coping mechanisms to battle this extra stress. They may have a harder time managing their emotions and may act out under the extreme pressure they’re facing.
Younger children are especially at a higher risk because prolonged isolation and increased levels of stress can affect brain development, and some cases induce long-term irreversible consequences.
Some groups of children that have a history of mental illnesses and been through events like trauma, abuse, car accidents, domestic violence, bullying, etc. have a higher chance of being psychologically affected by this outbreak. They possess a higher risk of developing mental disorders like anxiety, depression, disruptive behavioral problems, sleep disorders, substance abuse, and even thoughts of self-harm and suicide.
If left untreated, these mental problems can have long-lasting impact on the child’s well-being, even continuing into their adult life.
Protecting Children's Mental Health
There are many evidence-based counseling programs that can effectively help children work through the trauma caused by the pandemic, but access to mental health services continues to be a challenge due to business shutdowns and movement restrictions.
Fortunately, access to remote telehealth services is more accessible than ever before and government programs like Medicaid have taken steps to support these services. These changes related to telehealth services gives unprecedented access to mental health professionals from the comfort of your own home.
Many mental health providers have shifted their services online, and online therapy is becoming a common practice preferred among both clients and therapists. Online counseling gives families access to a wider variety of skilled specialists than they could find in their local geographic area. It allows your child to open up to their therapist from the comfort and safety of their own home.
Online counseling is cheaper and more flexible than in-person therapy. No more taking hours out of your normal schedule to accommodate office visits. No more packing up the kids in the van, driving to the doctor’s office just to sit in a stale waiting room for hours. No more worrying that other parents might judge you negatively after seeing you there.
Children and adults are more used to using the internet and technology, so online counseling proves to be an easy-to-comprehend and effective form of treatment. Here are 3 reasons online counseling might be better for your child.
However, online counseling isn’t right for everyone. Devices used for online counseling can also be very distracting, especially for kids. If you have questions about whether online counseling might be right for your child, please contact us at [email protected].
The Takeaway
Global pandemics like COVID-19 can cause serious psychological issues for children. Taking steps to reinforce your child’s mental health is essential to avoid long-term irreparable damage.
Online counseling can provide affordable professional guidance from the comfort of your home and give your child the tools she needs to safely recover from the negative mental consequences of COVID-19.
