DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (CNN) – In the midst of the Corona pandemic still killing lives around the world, it is easy to overlook the mental health of children and adolescents, which could have devastating consequences over the coming years.
For many children, the first signs of anxiety and depression appear as mysterious symptoms including mild headache that does not go away, bouts of anger, catharsis, and an inability to concentrate in School, without the ability to pronounce, or defend themselves.
About one in seven children in the United States suffers from a psychological condition, and most of them are not undergoing treatment, according to a study published last year in the medical journal “JAMA Pediatrics”.
High rates of mental health problems
Sanchez explained that for reasons that we do not fully understand, depression and suicide attempts have all been on the rise over the past decade.
The number of children and adolescents in the United States who visited emergency rooms due to suicide thoughts and suicide attempts doubled between 2007 and 2015, according to an analysis of data released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last year.
Although children and adolescents of all ages and races have been affected, dark-skinned and Hispanic adolescents face higher rates of suicide attempts, which is the largest indication of suicide in the future, compared to their white-skinned counterparts, according to CDC data.
Sanchez believes that “Covid-19” disease prey on multicolored societies at uneven rates.
New York City has witnessed twice the death rate of dark-skinned people and Latinos due to “Covid-19” disease compared to the death rate of white-skinned people, according to data released by the city last month.
Sanchez noted that there is no doubt that all children have been affected by this pandemic one way or another, yet children in colorful societies often resorted to hiding while watching adult family members leave the home to seek a livelihood, after which they become infected with the virus.
Currently, there is no way to predict the long-term effects of the pandemic on children, according to Sanchez.
For Sanchez, “Covid-19” is an unprecedented natural experience in itself, and some children may emerge from it on the other side with an increase in flexibility, while others may experience the type of long-term shock that impedes their development and keeps them excessively cautious in the future.
But with society reimagining, Sanchez believes that the well-being of children must be a top priority for society,
“Perhaps it is time to invest in infrastructure that will ensure access to mental health resources for the most vulnerable,” Sanchez said.
Many health care providers at Medicaid, who depend on 40% of children in the United States, are at risk of closing their doors, and 27 million Americans are now at risk of losing employer-sponsored health insurance, according to Sanchez.
Sanchez believes that it is time to provide real financial support to many families in the United States that were economically affected by this pandemic.
Until the basic needs of shelter and food are met, Sanchez believes it is unfair to ask parents to prioritize the mental health of their children.
“Although the road ahead is long and mysterious, it is time to plan and invest in the well-being of children,” Sanchez said.
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