Children’s Lives Matters

As a saying goes, "The youth is the hope of our nation". But in today’s time, the youth is one of the most affected by the pandemic. Suddenly they stopped going to school and their life outside their homes also stopped. Many changes have taken place that may have caused them various trials that they had to face and accept. Just like the sudden closing of face-to-face classes which eventually became modular or online learning where they must apply independent learning or self-study in this new way of pursuing education. The COVID-19 pandemic did not only affect their way of learning but also risked their health to be in danger. COVID 19 has so far shown itself in children with minor cold-like symptoms such as fever, runny nose, and cough. Gastrointestinal issues such as vomiting and diarrhea have also been reported by some children. However, much remains unclear about COVID 19 in children, including if some kids, such as those with existing medical issues, are at a higher risk of severe disease. Furthermore, even if a minor only has mild symptoms, they might still pass the virus on to others.

Parents may help protect their children against COVID 19 by educating them to avoid direct contact with other individuals, wash their hands frequently, clean and disinfect regularly, practice social distance, and wear facemasks. For the most up-to-date information about COVID 19 and children, parents should consult reliable sources such as professional doctors and trustworthy news. It's vital to search for data-informed suggestions on how you can protect the children from this virus that is currently spreading, if you are worried about your child's health and growth, contact reliable doctors or try to study and educate yourself about this matter. Children under the pandemic are also at a higher risk of abuse and violence at home. Pressures between family members are now more likely to get inflamed and new worries are more likely to arise. Mostly many families experienced unemployment that resulted in financial problems and stress that led to tensions between family members. Insecure or inadequate financial help can have a negative emotional impact on adults, which can lead to secondary stress in children and an increased risk of maltreatment.

While the pandemic can also harm the mental health of the children, which can again affect the whole youth. At this stage of development, peer support is essential, and social isolation has been related to an increased risk of depression and anxiety. Isolation has been linked to suicidal ideation, self-harm, and eating disorder risk behaviors. Notably, social isolation has been connected to mental health problems. The lockdown can be hazardous to a child's mental health in the long run. In the short term, mandatory detention can result in impatience, fury, perplexity, frustration, loneliness, denial, and despair. Children have been shown to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of forced quarantine. Children with pre-existing mental health illnesses are more likely to develop these signs and behaviors. Children and adolescents demand more mental health care as a result of the epidemic. These problems that affected every child’s health can be solved immediately by constantly being knowledgeable about the information related to our current situation, and being aware and careful about the virus. Participating in live video discussions or online mental health care programs and seeking help will be a benefit in keeping children’s mental health to stay healthy.

References:

https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/how-to-keep-kids-active-and-safe-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic.h00-159385890.html

https://www.understood.org/articles/en/how-to-talk-about-coronavirus-with-kids

https://www.unicef.org/coronavirus/how-parents-can-support-their-child-through-covid-19-losses