By: Muzamil Arif Batt
COVID-19 Pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns that followed it in all the three waves till now havetriggered a sense of fear and anxiety around the Globe. This phenomenon has led to short term as well as long term psychosocial and mental health implications for all especially children and adolescents. From morning till evening, we are reminded about the virus through news, mobile notifications, what’s App messages, social media updates and what not and this bombardment of news and rumors has proved to be equally detrimental as the virus, if not more.
The quality and magnitude of impact on minors is determined by many vulnerability factors including developmental age, educational status, pre-existing mental health condition, economic statusbesides facts like being quarantined due to infection or fear of infection. The home confinement of students,especially adolescents,kicked in uncertainty and anxiety which is one of the reasonsforthe disruption of their routines in the maters of education, physical activities and opportunities for socialization. Many of them are facing challenges that can be stressful, overwhelming, and cause strong emotions.
Public health actions, such as social distancing, are necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19, but they have also, on the other hand, made adolescents feel isolated and lonely and therefore increased stress and anxiety. A recent study shows that out of all adolescents interviewed, 24% of them had suicidal tendencieswhile 20% of are having extremely strong mental health issues besides48% of them are having moderate mental health issues- it is an alarming situation.
There is a pressing need for planning and implementing evidence based elaborative plan of action to cater to the psycho- social and mental health needs of the vulnerable children and adolescents during pandemic as well as post pandemic. There is a need for developing healthy coping mechanisms during the current crisis for the students andfor this innovative child and adolescent mental health policies with direct and digital collaborative networks of psychiatrists, psychologists, pediatricians, and community volunteers become necessary.
The writer is BSc Student, Govt. Degree (PG) College Bhaderwah, Jammu& Kashmir.
