User:PsychStudentS/Mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic

For carers of children

Impact on Children
 * Role model healthy behaviors, routines, and coping skills.
 * Use a positive parenting approach based on communication and respect.
 * *Maintain family routines as much as possible and provide age-appropriate engaging activities for children to teach responsibility.
 * *Explain COVID-19 and the preventive measures in age-appropriate ways that children can understand to help them process what is happening.
 * Monitor children's social media for safety.
 * *Validate children's thoughts and feelings and help them find positive ways to express their emotions.
 * *Avoid separating children from their parents/carers as much as possible. Ensure that regular contact with parents and carers is maintained, should the child be placed in isolation.

A meta-analysis of 15 studies performed by Panda et al. (2020) showed that 79.4% of children and teenagers around the world suffered negative consequences as a result of COVID-19 and quarantine. The calculations showed that 42.3% were irritable, 41.7% had symptoms of depression, 34.5% struggled with anxiety, and 30.8% had problems with inattention. Many young people also struggled with boredom, fear, and sleep problems.

Long-Term Consequences

One of the preventive measures taken in most countries during COVID-19 is quarantining anybody who exhibits symptoms or is in contact with somebody diagnosed with COVID-19. Studies from previous years and epidemics have shown that children who were isolated were much more likely to develop PTSD from the experience. PTSD in children can have long-term consequences on brain development and affected kids are more likely to develop psychiatric disorders.