Pandemic Exposes Extent of Kids’ Mental Health Issues

The coronavirus pandemic has not only affected economies around the globe but also impacted the mental health of both grown-ups and children significantly. Behavioral disorders, anxiety and depression are among the leading causes of disability and illness among adolescents. Data from the World Health Organization (“WHO”) shows that one in every seven children between the ages of 10 to 19 experiences a mental disorder, which makes up about 13% of the worldwide burden of illness.

Adolescents with mental health issues are especially vulnerable to risk-taking behaviors, educational difficulties, stigma, discrimination and social exclusion. Harvard professor Karestan Koenen notes that the rates of mental health issues, especially anxiety and depression, have doubled among children during the coronavirus pandemic.

Figures show that one in five children experience anxiety while one in four children experience depression. Koenen, who has majored in psychiatric epidemiology, said that there were also reports of increased behavior issues, particularly among children with autism and ADHD, with substance use also increasing among teens.

Koenen stated that teens and tweens reported that they were worried about everything, including their friends, schools, themselves and even the world, with young kids also reporting that they were worried about the jobs they’d have and whether they’d have enough money to support their families. Children were so worried that their sleep and concentration was affected, which could also be worsened by time spent on screens and phones.

With regard to depression, Koenen stated that children were probably feeling hopeless about their futures. The professor also highlighted that when schools were closed during the pandemic, teens were cut off from their peers, which had a significant impact on them.

Younger children seem to be bouncing back faster than older kids, with Koenen noting that as things return to normal, the symptoms displaying in younger children decreased. She believes that over time, the mental health of teens will also improve, highlighting that their lives are complicated enough as they try to maneuver between trying to be independent, social stress, academic and peer pressures, asserting that moving toward normalcy will support their mental health.

Most schools are now screening their students for depression and anxiety, with Koenen maintaining that schools also need to provide mental health resources, which includes bringing more counselors. She explained that teachers need to be trained to recognize potential mental health issues in students so they can refer them for proper help, adding that it wasn’t the teacher’s job to treat the students.

Novel treatments for mental health disorders are being developed by companies such as Mind Cure Health (CSE: MCUR) (OTCQX: MCURF), and these promising remedies could be a lot more effective and with fewer, if any, adverse side effects. Patients can therefore look forward to these treatments in the coming years.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Mind Cure Health Inc. (CSE: MCUR) (OTCQB: MCURF) are available in the company’s newsroom at http://ibn.fm/MCURF

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