Children with mental health problems saw their symptoms relieve during the early stages of closure

• Although COVID-19 physically affects adults more than children, mental health discomfort has increased in all age groups.
• Children between the ages of 5 and 17 sought help for mental health problems at much higher rates by 2020.
• However, a new study found that children with pre-existing mental health problems experienced reduced symptoms when blockages began.

Although the physical effects of COVID-19 have dominated headlines for the past 13 months, the effects on mental health are considered a simultaneous pandemic that can last the virus. In general, children have been resistant to the new coronavirus (although at least one variant is hitting demographics more). However, in terms of depression and anxiety, children are up to par with adults.

Emergency hospital visits for mental health problems in the population aged 12 to 17 have increased by 31% since the pandemic began. Younger children have behaved a little better: a 24% increase in children aged 5 to 11 years. In Germany, one in three children has suffered from anxiety or depression in the last year. In addition, children have difficulty learning in remote education settings.

However, at least one demographic worked better than normal, at least during the first blocking phase. According to a new study, published in Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent PsychiatryMiddle school children in a predominantly Latino community with higher-than-normal levels of mental distress experienced a reduction in symptoms.

Children with previous mental health problems saw reduced internalization problems (behaviors such as withdrawing, nervous, lonely, unwanted, or sad), externalizing (behaviors such as lying, acting irresponsibly, failing to law or show lack of remorse) and other problems.

People without mental health problems also benefited, at least in terms of internalizing and general behavior; there were no changes in care problems or outsourcing.

Researchers began tracking 322 children (12 years of age) in January 2020, before the pandemic hit the United States. They were studied until May 2020. While this only represents a time of closure, lead author Carla Sharp, a psychology professor at the University of Houston, says the results have important clinical implications.

“First, promoting family functioning during COVID-19 may have helped protect or improve the mental health of young people during the pandemic. In addition, it is important to consider cultural factors, such as familiarity and collectivism in Latinx communities that can cushion the first effects of mental health disasters on COVID-19 stress ”.

Hamza Haqqani, seven, a 2nd grader at Al-Huda Academy, uses a computer to participate in an e-learning class with her teacher and classmates while at home on May 1, 2020 in Bartlett , Illinois.Photo by Scott Olson / Getty Images

Many have denounced what we have lost over the past year. In fact, the problems are many and complex. However, we have also seen a reduction in environmental damage (including noise pollution) and increased savings. We are also more aware of how factory farming helps proliferate viruses. And, despite the obvious challenges of making a living with so many businesses and industries closed, this time has given them the opportunity to reconnect with their family.

The study’s co-author, Jessica Hernandez Ortiz, says this research may inspire new avenues for addressing mental health issues in children.

“Our findings underscore the importance of the family environment and Latinx collectivist values ​​of community connection to promote child resilience and highlight the possibility that school settings may exacerbate mental health difficulties. from this context to a less pressured environment immediately and positively impacts mental health. “

Since the study ended shortly after the pandemic, the novelty of family union may have diminished as families became financially strained and realized that spending all their time together was more burdensome than it initially was. imagined. That said, humans are social animals that require regular contact with family and peers. The latter group may not be available, but at least for some children, their families filled the gaps, especially for those who did not thrive in a traditional school setting.

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Keep in touch with Derek on Twitter and Facebook. His most recent book is “Hero’s Dose: The Case for Psychedelics in Ritual and Therapy “.