Adjusting to the “new normal” during this past year’s pandemic may leave us wondering what’s considered unhealthy. Regarding child and adolescent mental health, the line between typical developmental behaviors and those that require professional help can be difficult to discern even in the best of times. That means monitoring for unhealthy behaviors is that much more important during the ongoing public health crisis.
It’s understandable if a child or teen has increased anxiety or difficulties with sleep, struggles with staying focused in online classrooms, or frustration over limited extracurricular activities. However, unlike adults, children and adolescents are experiencing these common stressors during key developmental periods.
With fewer coping and adaptive skills, they are more vulnerable to these stressors, increasing the likelihood of post-traumatic stress symptoms developing during and after the pandemic. Also, considering that 50% of all lifetime mental illness develops by age 14, the current challenges may exacerbate existing mental health issues or trigger symptoms in at-risk individuals.
The pandemic has intensified concerning behavioral health trends
Prior to the pandemic, data related to the mental health of U.S. children and adolescents had already been trending in a worrisome direction. For example, 18.8% of high school students had seriously considered attempting suicide during the year leading up to the survey, and 8.9% had survived a suicide attempt.
The pandemic has ushered in several complicating factors, including:
- Reduced services and treatments (i.e., school counseling, speech or occupational therapy etc.) because of lockdowns
- Restrictions on in-person contact through school and extracurricular activities, which removes a way that emotional and behavioral changes can be recognized
- Increased screen-time that raises the risk of disturbed sleep patterns, cyber bullying, reduced exercise etc.
- Increased frustration in parents and other caregivers that can be displaced onto the children, leading to increased risk of domestic violence and abuse
Early identification and intervention are key to reducing risk
Concerning signs and symptoms may vary depending on age. One preliminary study has shown that 3- to 6-year-old children demonstrate clinginess and fears of family members getting infected, while those 6 to 18 years old show inattention and ask many questions about COVID.
Any worrisome signs or symptoms warrant a professional evaluation, which may start with the child’s pediatrician and advance to an assessment by a child and adolescent psychologist or psychiatrist, in person or via telehealth. Additional recommendations for caregivers include:
- Talk to children directly about their concerns and fears as they relate to COVID
- Intervene early if school performance declines
- Secure any medications, recognizing that even over-the-counter medications can be dangerous if taken in inappropriate amounts
- Make weapons inaccessible to children. Monitor potential weapons, such as kitchen knives.
- Teach/coach skills to help children stay healthy and develop a sense of control—thereby fostering resilience. This includes practices such as personal hygiene and social distancing as well as self-care skills (i.e., yoga, meditation, journaling, exercise).
- Maintain a schedule and routine as much as possible, including consistent bedtimes and morning wake-up times
- Facilitate safe social interactions as much as possible
- Encourage physical exercise and creative pursuits
- Monitor screen-time, including social media and news exposure
- Attend to your own stress-management skills and mental health, acknowledging the importance of modeling behavior
- Make yourself aware of local resources for urgent or emergent mental health help, available 24/7:
- Text “HOME” to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor.
- Call 800-273-8255 to reach the National Suicide Prevention hotline.
Managing the long-term mental health conditions caused by the pandemic, especially among children and adolescents, may well pose a significant future challenge. Early identification and intervention remain the best approach to trying to get a handle on a behavioral health crisis poised to emerge from a physical health crisis.
Adjusting to the “new normal” during this past year’s pandemic may leave us wondering what’s considered unhealthy. Regarding child and adolescent mental health, the line between typical developmental behaviors and those that require professional help can be difficult to discern even in the best of times. That means monitoring for unhealthy behaviors is that much more important during the ongoing public health crisis.
It’s understandable if a child or teen has increased anxiety or difficulties with sleep, struggles with staying focused in online classrooms, or frustration over limited extracurricular activities. However, unlike adults, children and adolescents are experiencing these common stressors during key developmental periods.
With fewer coping and adaptive skills, they are more vulnerable to these stressors, increasing the likelihood of post-traumatic stress symptoms developing during and after the pandemic. Also, considering that 50% of all lifetime mental illness develops by age 14, the current challenges may exacerbate existing mental health issues or trigger symptoms in at-risk individuals.
The pandemic has intensified concerning behavioral health trends
Prior to the pandemic, data related to the mental health of U.S. children and adolescents had already been trending in a worrisome direction. For example, 18.8% of high school students had seriously considered attempting suicide during the year leading up to the survey, and 8.9% had survived a suicide attempt.
The pandemic has ushered in several complicating factors, including:
- Reduced services and treatments (i.e., school counseling, speech or occupational therapy etc.) because of lockdowns
- Restrictions on in-person contact through school and extracurricular activities, which removes a way that emotional and behavioral changes can be recognized
- Increased screen-time that raises the risk of disturbed sleep patterns, cyber bullying, reduced exercise etc.
- Increased frustration in parents and other caregivers that can be displaced onto the children, leading to increased risk of domestic violence and abuse
Early identification and intervention are key to reducing risk
Concerning signs and symptoms may vary depending on age. One preliminary study has shown that 3- to 6-year-old children demonstrate clinginess and fears of family members getting infected, while those 6 to 18 years old show inattention and ask many questions about COVID.
Any worrisome signs or symptoms warrant a professional evaluation, which may start with the child’s pediatrician and advance to an assessment by a child and adolescent psychologist or psychiatrist, in person or via telehealth. Additional recommendations for caregivers include:
- Talk to children directly about their concerns and fears as they relate to COVID
- Intervene early if school performance declines
- Secure any medications, recognizing that even over-the-counter medications can be dangerous if taken in inappropriate amounts
- Make weapons inaccessible to children. Monitor potential weapons, such as kitchen knives.
- Teach/coach skills to help children stay healthy and develop a sense of control—thereby fostering resilience. This includes practices such as personal hygiene and social distancing as well as self-care skills (i.e., yoga, meditation, journaling, exercise).
- Maintain a schedule and routine as much as possible, including consistent bedtimes and morning wake-up times
- Facilitate safe social interactions as much as possible
- Encourage physical exercise and creative pursuits
- Monitor screen-time, including social media and news exposure
- Attend to your own stress-management skills and mental health, acknowledging the importance of modeling behavior
- Make yourself aware of local resources for urgent or emergent mental health help, available 24/7:
- Text “HOME” to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor.
- Call 800-273-8255 to reach the National Suicide Prevention hotline.
Managing the long-term mental health conditions caused by the pandemic, especially among children and adolescents, may well pose a significant future challenge. Early identification and intervention remain the best approach to trying to get a handle on a behavioral health crisis poised to emerge from a physical health crisis.
Adjusting to the “new normal” during this past year’s pandemic may leave us wondering what’s considered unhealthy. Regarding child and adolescent mental health, the line between typical developmental behaviors and those that require professional help can be difficult to discern even in the best of times. That means monitoring for unhealthy behaviors is that much more important during the ongoing public health crisis.
It’s understandable if a child or teen has increased anxiety or difficulties with sleep, struggles with staying focused in online classrooms, or frustration over limited extracurricular activities. However, unlike adults, children and adolescents are experiencing these common stressors during key developmental periods.
With fewer coping and adaptive skills, they are more vulnerable to these stressors, increasing the likelihood of post-traumatic stress symptoms developing during and after the pandemic. Also, considering that 50% of all lifetime mental illness develops by age 14, the current challenges may exacerbate existing mental health issues or trigger symptoms in at-risk individuals.
The pandemic has intensified concerning behavioral health trends
Prior to the pandemic, data related to the mental health of U.S. children and adolescents had already been trending in a worrisome direction. For example, 18.8% of high school students had seriously considered attempting suicide during the year leading up to the survey, and 8.9% had survived a suicide attempt.
The pandemic has ushered in several complicating factors, including:
- Reduced services and treatments (i.e., school counseling, speech or occupational therapy etc.) because of lockdowns
- Restrictions on in-person contact through school and extracurricular activities, which removes a way that emotional and behavioral changes can be recognized
- Increased screen-time that raises the risk of disturbed sleep patterns, cyber bullying, reduced exercise etc.
- Increased frustration in parents and other caregivers that can be displaced onto the children, leading to increased risk of domestic violence and abuse
Early identification and intervention are key to reducing risk
Concerning signs and symptoms may vary depending on age. One preliminary study has shown that 3- to 6-year-old children demonstrate clinginess and fears of family members getting infected, while those 6 to 18 years old show inattention and ask many questions about COVID.
Any worrisome signs or symptoms warrant a professional evaluation, which may start with the child’s pediatrician and advance to an assessment by a child and adolescent psychologist or psychiatrist, in person or via telehealth. Additional recommendations for caregivers include:
- Talk to children directly about their concerns and fears as they relate to COVID
- Intervene early if school performance declines
- Secure any medications, recognizing that even over-the-counter medications can be dangerous if taken in inappropriate amounts
- Make weapons inaccessible to children. Monitor potential weapons, such as kitchen knives.
- Teach/coach skills to help children stay healthy and develop a sense of control—thereby fostering resilience. This includes practices such as personal hygiene and social distancing as well as self-care skills (i.e., yoga, meditation, journaling, exercise).
- Maintain a schedule and routine as much as possible, including consistent bedtimes and morning wake-up times
- Facilitate safe social interactions as much as possible
- Encourage physical exercise and creative pursuits
- Monitor screen-time, including social media and news exposure
- Attend to your own stress-management skills and mental health, acknowledging the importance of modeling behavior
- Make yourself aware of local resources for urgent or emergent mental health help, available 24/7:
- Text “HOME” to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor.
- Call 800-273-8255 to reach the National Suicide Prevention hotline.
Managing the long-term mental health conditions caused by the pandemic, especially among children and adolescents, may well pose a significant future challenge. Early identification and intervention remain the best approach to trying to get a handle on a behavioral health crisis poised to emerge from a physical health crisis.