COVID-19 AND IT’S PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT ON CHILDREN’S AND ADOLESCENT
Sanchita Subedi
A Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) was identified as the cause of an outbreak of Viral Pneumonia in Wuhan, China in December 2019. According to WHO (World Health Organization) Corona Virus is a newly discovered virus which causes Coronavirus disease (Covid-19). This virus affects both humans and animals. Most people infected from the virus experience mild to moderate respiratory illness. The viruses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) which was reported in the year 2002 and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) which were reported in the year 2012 related to the same family. According to the information from MOHP (Ministry of Health & Population) there are 5062 confirmed cases and 877 recovered and the reported death cases are 16 till the date of today. During this pandemic Lockdown (mass quarantine) is still done by the Government of Nepal to control the spread of the communicable disease. It is very good action to control the spread of the disease as its vaccine and medicines are still not available.
Today the entire population of the world has been suffering from the pandemic of the Covid-19. Along with the increasing cases everyday but still we don’t know how the mental health of adolescents and children’s are being affected. Since, the last time the children’s and the adolescents in the Nepal are experiencing a prolonged state of physical isolation from their friends, school, as well as community networks.
All the academic exams are cancelled and schools and colleges are closed in order to control the spread of the virus.
Overall the Social Isolation and Loneliness has increased the risks of Depression and Anxiety among the children and adolescents because of the lack of Social-Interaction. This also suggests that the current social-distancing measures enforced in children and adolescents during Covid-19 pandemic could even lead to the increase mental health problems including post-traumatic stress. Lack of social-interaction with the people’s can also lead to the social anxiety because; the social anxiety is triggered with the lack of the interaction with the community world and loneliness.
There are certain precautions which can be well established that can promote child and adolescent mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Listening to the news can provide you the information and knowledge about the conditions but; these days there are many news that are spreading wrong information, myths, in social sites. In general, listening and watching the news for similar time per day would be good.
- Spending more time with them in indoor activities and providing them supportive environment at home will help them to express and communicate about their feelings and emotional experiences.
- Schools and colleges are one of the important part in the life of children’s and adolescents lives and changes, and regularly checking update of student life and how they are coping up with the current situation would play a great role.
- Education related programs on Televisions and Social sites related to hygiene and safety can also play a great role for proper knowledge enhancement.
Sanchita Subedi, Public Health Professional, Email: sanchitasubedi19@gmail.com
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