The Long-Term Effects of the Pandemic and Mental Health of Children
The COVID-19 pandemic shook the world in ways none of us could have imagined, but the impact and connection of the pandemic and mental health have been particularly profound. From school closures to social isolation, children and teens faced an overwhelming disruption to their routines and support systems. And that's on a global scale, not to mention the little things happening in homes every day- like how your son was very frustrated with online school or hated being stuck at home!
Now, as life returns to a new normal, we’re beginning to understand the long-term effects this experience has had on their emotional well-being. The mental health consequences of the pandemic on children are significant, highlighting the need for comprehensive responses to manage potential long-term, mental health impacts such as PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), depression, and anxiety. While the challenges are undeniable, there’s also hope and resilience to be found in the way families and communities are working to support children’s mental health in the aftermath.
The Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Child and Adolescent Mental Health Today
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health include: Increased Anxiety and Depression
There has been a significant rise in anxiety and depression symptoms, with a 25% global increase during the first year of the pandemic. Social isolation, financial stress, and uncertainty about the future were major contributing factors.
Long-Term Mental Health Disorders and Challenges
Individuals, particularly healthcare workers and those with pre existing mental disorders, are at risk of developing long-term mental disorders such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression. The pandemic heightened emotional distress and grief due to illness, death, and significant changes in daily life.
Disruption to Mental Health Services
The pandemic disrupted mental health services, creating gaps in care for those with pre-existing mental health conditions who needed support. These disruptions have made it harder for many to access essential mental health interventions.
Impact on Vulnerable Populations
Young people, women, and those with pre-existing health conditions have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic’s mental health challenges, facing higher risks of suicide, self-harm, and poor mental health.
What are the effects of the pandemic on a child and the family?
COVID-19 has significantly impacted family life in various ways, including employment, financial stability, mental health, children’s education, and overall family well-being. (Gayatri et al., 2020). The study shows that:
- Economic challenges and financial insecurity created additional stress within families, highlighting the economic and social impacts of the pandemic.
- Job loss led to significant instability in family dynamics.
- Mental health struggles among family members increased, contributing to emotional strain.
- Illness and concerns about health worsened family well-being during the pandemic.
Unhealthy lifestyle behaviors such as extended screen time, sleep disturbance, and reduced physical activity contributed to mental health decline. It is crucial to recognize that neglecting mental health can also lead to worsened physical health outcomes or even possibly lead to mental illnesses.
Has the Pandemic Exacerbated the Mental Health Crisis?
With mental illness and mental health issues amongst children and teens already a crisis before the pandemic, it is no surprise that the pandemic is worsening the mental health of kids and their families.
According to a 2021 survey report by Common Sense titled, “Coping with COVID-19” depression and anxiety have increased amongst young people in the last two years, especially for LGBTQ+ youth. Their current survey finds that almost one in four teens and young adults report symptoms of moderate to severe depression, which has increased from 25% since 2018.
And for members of the youth with a family member who had a COVID-19 infection, they have an increased rate of depression, as half (51%) report symptoms of moderate to severe depression.
COVID-19 and the resulting pandemic have disrupted the lives of children and their families across the globe. How they learn, attend and listen, play, socialize, communicate, and regulate their behaviors and emotions has been impacted. Social isolation, inconsistent education, distance learning, lack of movement, technology drain, and stress have taken its toll on kids and their parents. According to the APA Stress in America™ survey, 70% of parents report pandemic-related stress, which isn’t surprising but a reflection of the reality we are all living in today.
Mental Health Concerns Connected to Covid 19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a rise in mental health symptoms among children and adolescents, creating a significant concern for healthcare providers. This review looked at 35 survey studies involving over 65,000 participants, ranging in age from 4 to 19 years.
Here are the most common mental health problems observed during the pandemic:
- anxiety (28%)
- depression (23%)
- loneliness (5%)
- stress (5%)
- other symptoms, such as fear, tension, and anger.
Children with pre-existing psychiatric or developmental disorders, like ADHD, OCD, and chronic conditions, were especially vulnerable to the pandemic’s mental health effects.
Factors that are linked to a higher risk of mental health issues:
- age
- gender
- poor coping strategies
Children and teens with positive coping strategies, along with strong family and social support, helped protect against worsening mental health.
Despite these findings, there is still a need for more research to fully understand the pandemic’s long-term impact on children and adolescents. Positive family dynamics and social support remain key to improving outcomes.
The Importance of Coping Skills
One of the most important tools for helping children manage their emotions, especially after traumatic events, is building strong coping skills. When a child's brain is calm, they are better able to process emotions, make thoughtful decisions, and handle stress. Teaching kids how to regulate their emotions not only helps them in the moment but also builds long-term resilience.
Help your child navigate big emotions with ease. Download my “Therapist’s Essential Coping Skills for Kids and Teens” and give them the tools they need to thrive. Download it for free here.
What is pandemic anxiety?
Pandemic anxiety refers to the heightened feelings of fear, stress, and uncertainty brought on by the COVID-19 global pandemic. It stems from concerns about health, the risk of infection, and the safety of loved ones, as well as the disruption of daily routines, social isolation, and financial insecurity. This form of anxiety often involves obsessive worry about contracting the virus, hyperawareness of symptoms, and avoidance of social interactions or crowded places, even after restrictions have eased. For some, pandemic anxiety can persist long after the immediate threat has diminished, affecting their mental and emotional well-being.
When should I seek help for trauma-related issues from the pandemic?
If you notice your child is showing signs of psychological distress like anxiety, mood swings, or unusual behavior affecting their mental health status, it’s important to seek help from mental health professionals. If these issues lead to emergency department visits or you suspect a more serious mental health disorder, such as depression or PTSD, don’t wait. Early intervention can prevent the development of serious mental illness. Reaching out to a professional can give your child the support they need to recover.
What is the long-term psychological impact of covid-19 pandemic?
The long-term psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic includes psychiatric symptoms like increased levels of anxiety, depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and PTSD, especially due to prolonged social isolation and economic strain. Health anxiety has also become more prevalent, with individuals developing an excessive fear of illness and hyperawareness of physical symptoms, leading to ongoing stress even after the pandemic.
Have some children's mental health been more impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic?
This pandemic has affected individuals quite differently, with some being more affected than others. Pre-existing mental health issues, anxiety disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, prior-traumatic experiences, and lack of coping skills, coupled with life stressors, poor educational instruction or assistance, and even a lack of good internet access, are all factors that are adversely affecting the mental health of children across the globe. We know that when it comes to managing stress, what you bring to the table helps you get through and recover from stress or even traumatic events. So, for those youth who may already had anxiety, depression, or attention issues, their clinical issues may have been exacerbated with pandemic-related stressors.
It is important to note that some children and teens with no prior history of mental health issues are also suffering with heightened stress, anxiety, OCD, depression, suicidal thoughts, and behavioral and emotional reactivity, due to the loss of structure, routine, normal education and learning, and structured activities.
What should schools and organizations be doing to help children maintain their mental health?
Schools should be proactively planning for the mental health needs of their students and staff, as they have been highly impacted and their struggles will impact how students are learning. We should plan for students to have increased rates of focus issues, behavioral problems, and difficulty regulating their emotions because of the heightened levels of stress and mental health issues and thereby implement programs to support them as part of the regular curriculum. Every student should have a 15 to 20 minute meditation session that focuses on breathwork calming down the autonomic nervous system, which regulates our stress response. As children return to the classroom we need to explicitly teach children ways that they can regulate their brain and bodies, as well as ways to cope with stress.
It is also crucial to follow credible health advice from sources like the CDC and WHO to stay informed about disease control measures that can help mitigate the pandemic's impact on both physical and mental health.
How has the Pandemic Impacted Education?
Globally, almost 70% of students’ education has been disrupted due to the coronavirus presence in 143 countries and the resulting quarantine, which thrust students into distance learning.
The sudden change in both the learning environment and delivery methods, coupled with limited direct instruction and social interactions, has hit kids hard. Children are used to the routine and structure of in-person learning and direct teaching from trained educators. Kids and parents have largely been left to navigate through what essentially is the Wild West educationally. Just the constant digital exposure and sitting has negatively affected the developing brains of our youth, with focus and motivation waning as we are deep into another year of virtual or hybrid learning.
Citations:
Ng CSM, Ng SSL. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's mental health: A systematic review. Front Psychiatry. 2022 Oct 18;13:975936. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.975936. PMID: 36329921; PMCID: PMC9622998.
Gayatri M, Puspitasari MD. The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Family Well-Being: A Literature Review. Fam J Alex Va. 2022 Oct 5:10664807221131006. doi: 10.1177/10664807221131006. PMCID: PMC9535451
Theberath M, Bauer D, Chen W, Salinas M, Mohabbat AB, Yang J, Chon TY, Bauer BA, Wahner-Roedler DL. Effects of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health of children and adolescents: A systematic review of survey studies. SAGE Open Med. 2022 Mar 30;10:20503121221086712. doi: 10.1177/20503121221086712. PMID: 35371484; PMCID: PMC8972920.
Dr. Roseann is a mental health expert in Neurodivergence who is frequently in the media:
- Brainy Moms Podcast COVID’s Impact on Children’s Mental Health & How We Can Help
- Single Care Controlling the uncontrollable: Living with OCD during a pandemic
- Medium: Elemental The Covid-19 Symptoms No One Talks About: Survivors carry guilt, anxiety, and shame
Always remember… “Calm Brain, Happy Family™”
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to give health advice and it is recommended to consult with a physician before beginning any new wellness regime. *The effectiveness of diagnosis and treatment vary by patient and condition. Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge, LLC does not guarantee certain results.
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Dr. Roseann is a Children’s Mental Health Expert and Licensed Therapist who has been featured in/on hundreds of media outlets including The Mel Robbins Show, CBS, NBC, PIX11 NYC, Today, FORBES, CNN, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Business Insider, Women’s Day, Healthline, CNET, Parade Magazine and PARENTS. FORBES called her, “A thought leader in children’s mental health.”
She coined the terms, “Re-entry panic syndrome” and “eco-anxiety” and is a frequent contributor to media on mental health.
Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge has three decades of experience in working with children, teens and their families with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, concussion, dyslexia and learning disability, anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), depression and mood disorder, Lyme Disease, and PANS/PANDAS using science-backed natural mental health solutions such as supplements, magnesium, nutrition, QEEG Brain maps, neurofeedback, PEMF, psychotherapy and other non-medication approaches.
She is the author of three bestselling books, It’s Gonna Be OK!: Proven Ways to Improve Your Child's Mental Health, The Teletherapy Toolkit, and Brain Under Attack. Dr. Roseann is known for offering a message of hope through science-endorsed methods that promote a calm brain.
Her trademarked BrainBehaviorResetⓇ Program and It’s Gonna be OK!Ⓡ Podcast has been a cornerstone for thousands of parents facing mental health, behavioral or neurodevelopmental challenges.
She is the founder and director of The Global Institute of Children’s Mental Health, Neurotastic™Brain Formulas and Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge, LLC. Dr. Roseann is a Board Certified Neurofeedback (BCN) Practitioner, a Board Member of the Northeast Region Biofeedback Society (NRBS), Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional (CIMHP) and an Amen Clinic Certified Brain Health Coach. She is also a member of The International Lyme Disease and Associated Disease Society (ILADS), The American Psychological Association (APA), Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), International OCD Foundation (IOCDF).
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