BackCovid has exacerbated mental health issues in children: UNICEF
We need to encourage children, adults and young people to share their anxiety, depression and bad thoughts so that we can help them, said Dr Yasmin Ali Haque, representative of UNICEF India
PremiumGlobally one in 7 children have mental health issues and Covid has exacerbated that, the UNICEF said on Tuesday. “We have seen that despite having issues children are not comfortable talking about it," said Dr. Yasmin Ali Haque, representative of UNICEF India.
“We need to encourage children, adults and young people to share their anxiety, depression and bad thoughts so that we can help them. Addressing this stigma is a huge issue," she added.
In its report titled 'State of the World’s Children', the United Nations Children’s Fund said the COVID-19 pandemic has raised huge concerns for the mental health of an entire generation of children and young people and parents and caregivers. “But the pandemic may represent only the tip of a mental health iceberg – an iceberg we have ignored for far too long".
"Many children are filled with sadness, hurt or anxiety. Some are wondering where this world is headed and what their place is in it. Indeed, these are very challenging times for children and young people, and this is the state of their world in 2021," the report said.
With nationwide lockdowns and pandemic-related movement restrictions, children have spent indelible years of their lives away from family, friends, classrooms, play — key elements of childhood itself," said UNICEF's executive director, Henrietta Fore.
“The impact is significant, and it is just the tip of the iceberg," Fore said. “Even before the pandemic, far too many children were burdened under the weight of unaddressed mental health issues. Too little investment is being made by governments to address these critical needs."
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