This COVID 19 Pandemic hits many of us. Some became ill, some died, some lost their jobs, businesses go bankrupt, the economy slows down. Those effects were commonly connected to adults but what is the children’s perception about this outbreak? What is Covid-19 and how does it affect the children’s emotional and mental health?
Covid-19 is caused by the transmission of acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus. It Started on December 31, 2019, and was first identified in Wuhan, China. The disease has rapidly disseminated worldwide and the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11 declared COVID-19 a pandemic, pointing to the over 118,000 cases of coronavirus illness in over 110 countries and territories around the world.
This outbreak has rapidly affected our day-to-day life, businesses, disrupted world trade and movements. It lowers emotional well-being by 74% and many people got depressed or anxious because of this crisis. Loss of income, quarantine at home for too long, fear of this pandemic, and many more. It also affects mental health and emotional well-being not only to the adults but also to the children.
According to the report of Children’s Mental Health Ontario (CMHO), social isolation, removal from school and daily routines, as well as isolation and loss associated with illness are some of the top stressors children are facing. Like so many adults, children are also feeling the impacts of so much uncertainty around how long the pandemic will go on. Children have many worries related to the consequences of COVID-19 such as whether they will see their friends and relatives, go to school or get sick. It is often difficult for parents to calm their children’s anxieties because of the uncertainty in their lives.
It is essential that the guardians, educational institutions, and health authorities protect and guard the mental health of children consistently. It is also important to inquire about the mental health of their children during this pandemic.
Children’s Social-Emotional, and Mental Health during Covid-19 Pandemic
