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Since the onset of the Corona pandemic, at least one in seven children, or 332 million children worldwide, have lived for at least nine months under recommended home care policies in several countries, thereby putting their health on the line. healthy mental and psychological. -being at risk.
This is what UNICEF warned in a press release summarizing the findings of a study in which data from the “Oxford Corona Response Tracker” was used. This tracker identifies “lockdown conditions” around the world, as many children have experienced some form of lockdown over the past year or so.
According to the new analysis, tens of millions of children around the world have been living under orders to stay at home for at least nine months, since the coronavirus was classified as a pandemic on March 11, 2020.
“With the closures and restrictions on movement related to the pandemic, a long year has passed for all of us, but especially for the children,” said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore.
She added that “when, day in and day out, you are away from your friends and relatives, and you can be stuck at home with an abusive person, the impact is great.”
She explained that many children feel fear, are alone and worried about their future. “We need to come out of this pandemic with a better approach to child and adolescent mental health, and that starts with giving the issue the attention it deserves,” she said.
As the pandemic enters its second year, its impact on the mental health and psychosocial well-being of children and youth is taking its toll. In Latin America and the Caribbean, UNICEF surveyed nearly 8,000 young people, finding that more than a quarter of them suffered from anxiety and 15% from depression.
Even before the pandemic, many children and youth were “burdened with mental health risks” with half of mental disorders developing before the age of 15.
Approximately 800,000 young people commit suicide each year, and self-harm is the third leading cause of death among people aged 15 to 19, with higher rates among adolescent girls.
It is estimated that one in four children in the world lives with a parent who suffers from a mental disorder.
For children experiencing violence, neglect or abuse in the home, the closures have left many stranded with abusers and without the support of teachers, extended families and communities.
Children from “vulnerable populations”, such as those who live and work on the streets, children with disabilities and children living in conflict situations, are also at risk of completely neglecting their mental health needs.
According to the World Health Organization, the Corona pandemic has caused the disruption or suspension of mental health services in 93% of countries around the world, as demand for mental health support grows.
A study conducted in 194 cities in China found that 16% of those polled reported moderate to severe depressive symptoms during the pandemic, and 28% reported moderate to severe anxiety symptoms.
The UNICEF Executive Director called on countries to invest significantly in expanding mental health services and supporting young people and their caregivers in communities and schools. “We also need expanded parenting programs to ensure that children from vulnerable families get the support and protection they need at home,” she said.
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