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RE: Mental health issues in children amidst COVID-19 pandemic

  • Siddharth Madan, Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Lady Hardinge Medical college and Associated Hospitals, Department of Ophthalmology, Lady Hardinge Medical college and Associated Hospitals, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
27 June 2020

Novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has affected society in many ways.1 It has brought about lockdown, and school closures have impacted over 1.5 billion children. Restriction in movement, loss of daily wages and isolation invites high levels of stress and anxiety. The repercussion of this is an increased level of psychological and sexual abuse on children at home apart from physical violence. This is more common in parts of society who face the financial crunch as a result of this evolving pandemic. About 30% of children or their parents who are subjected to quarantine at home or are isolated, suffer from acute stress disorder, depression and adjustment problems caused as result of such dramatic change in their daily lifestyle.2 A few college students have experienced suicidal tendencies as well. Lack of companionship and separation from caregivers affects the psychological wellbeing of children. These stressors may trigger new symptoms or exacerbate underlying mental or neurological conditions and may cause sleeping difficulties.3 Although online platforms have been popularized at the right time to prevent academic delays and allow the learning activities of the children to continue, they come with potential risks of unnecessary cyber usage and involvement in irrational behavioral activities. World Health Organization has suggested the importance of reassurance and counseling the younger population, keeping them informed of the facts of the pandemic in a way that is appropriate for their age and as to what is going on now and how they can be protected and disease transmission reduced.4 There is definitely a significant risk of disruption to routine immunization activities due to the COVID-19 related burden on the health care system. This would manifest as an increase in the likelihood of vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) like measles and would further impact the health care system. Therefore this aspect must not be neglected by the health authorities amidst this pandemic. Psychosocial crisis prevention and intervention model development by the government and healthcare professionals is needed to avert a pandemic of mental ill health erupting simultaneously.5

Competing Interests: None declared.
References 
. RE: Mental health issues in children amidst COVID-19 pandemic. 2020;:-.
Wang G, Zhang Y, Zhao J, Zhang J, Jiang F. Mitigate the effects of home confinement on children during the COVID-19 outbreak. Lancet. 2020 21;395(10228):945–7.
Norredam M, Nellums L, Nielsen RS, Byberg S, Petersen JH. Incidence of psychiatric disorders among accompanied and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in Denmark: a nation-wide register-based cohort study. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2018 Apr;27(4)
World Health Organization. Guiding principles for immunization activities during the COVID-19 pandemic: interim guidance, 26 March 2020. 2020 [cited 2020 Jun 27]; Available from: https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/331590
Dubey S, Biswas P, Ghosh R, Chatterjee S, Dubey MJ, Chatterjee S, et al. Psychosocial impact of COVID-19. Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2020 May 27;14(5):779–88.
See article »

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