The mental health of American children has worsened during the COVID-19

Children and adolescents are no exception to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disrupted the normal order of life and caused uncertainty and loneliness.  The mental health of children and adolescents in the US has worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday.  

 

The CENTERS for Disease Control and Prevention released two studies on hospital emergency department visits for children and adolescents between January 2019 and January 2022.  One of the reports showed that children and adolescents ages 5 to 17 had fewer emergency department visits overall during the pandemic than in 2019, but increased the number and rate of visits for certain unintentional injuries, chronic diseases and behavioral health problems.  

 

Health, financial, psychological and other problems experienced by adult caregivers during the pandemic increase the vulnerability of children, according to the report.  The loss of a parent or caregiver as a result of the pandemic, the increase in other difficulties experienced by some children, and the impact on daily life, all contribute to the increase in behavioral health problems among children.  More than 140,000 children and adolescents in the United States have lost a parent or caregiver to the pandemic.  

 

Another report showed that the number and rate of emergency visits for mental health issues among adolescent girls aged 12 to 17 increased significantly during the pandemic.  The proportion of adolescent girls attending the emergency department for eating disorders doubled from pre-pandemic levels, and the proportion of adolescent girls attending the emergency department for tic disorders more than tripled.  This is related to the difficulties caused by the pandemic, exacerbated by the lack of timely access to medical care for mental health issues.  

 

The CDC says early identification and prevention interventions are critical to improving a child’s mental health.  The lack of timely medical assistance and increased emotional stress may aggravate children’s mental health problems, and the whole society should raise awareness of this aspect.  

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