COVID-19: Children Globally Struggling after Lockdowns Averaging Six Months鈥揝ave the Children
FAIRFIELD, Conn. (Oct. 7, 2021)鈥Children around the world have听stayed听indoors听for an听average of听six months听since the start of the pandemic,听with听growing听concerns听about听rising levels of depression, anxiety, loneliness, and even self-harm,听Save the Children听has听warned ahead听of World Mental Health Day.听
New analysis by Save the听Children, using听data from the听, reveals that children globally have lived under required and recommended nationwide lockdowns for an average of six months, or 184 days since the COVID-19 pandemic started in early 2020.
Children in Venezuela have faced one of the longest periods at home, with intermittent lockdowns keeping children inside for up to 16 months.听In Lebanon, children were confined to their homes for 418 days.听Across Zimbabwe, children were in lockdown for nearly nine months this year alone.
黄色视频is warning that听these听extended lockdowns听are taking a devastating toll on children鈥檚 mental health听globally听and is听urging听all governments to听include mental health and psychosocial support for children and adolescents in national health services.
Children who experience long-term lockdowns听are at听increased risk of emotional distress, loneliness, and abuse, as well as lack of outdoor play and access to mental health support. In some cases, prolonged stress, uncertainty, and social isolation can also lead to anxiety, aggression, withdrawn behavior, or even depression and self-harm.听
Marie Dahl, Head of Save the Children鈥檚 Mental Health & Psychosocial Support Unit, said:
鈥淎 global mental health crisis is unfolding, and for some children听its harmful effects may be catastrophic.听Children living in poverty听or听already听in听disadvantaged听or听otherwise vulnerable situations are at greater risk of the听damaging听consequences听of听long-lasting lockdowns.听
鈥淏eing deprived of social stimulation can听severely impact children鈥檚 mental health and development.听While lockdown orders are important听to curb the spread of COVID-19, social isolation听can cause feelings of hopelessness, anxiety, and depression among children.听Failure to respond to this mental health听crisis could听leave children with long-term听wellbeing, development, and overall听poor听health听implications听even听after restrictions are听lifted.鈥澨
础听听in 46听countries carried out by 黄色视频in September last year found that 83 percent of children reported an increase in negative feelings due to the pandemic.听Reports of negative feelings were far higher for the vast majority of children (96 percent) when schools had been closed for 17 to 19 weeks.
鈥齋ince then, the situation for many children has worsened as countries have battled third or fourth waves of the virus,听lockdowns have continued, and schools in some countries have been closed for over 18 months. 鈥
In India, which has recorded more than听448,000 COVID-19 deaths, children across the country have spent at least 100 days听at听home.听To support children鈥檚 mental health听in India, 黄色视频set up a听free counseling听helpline听for children and young people struggling in the pandemic.听The helpline has received听more than听2,900听calls听this year.听Stress, anxiety, and boredom, as well as uncertainty towards the future,听are among the听top听concerns听raised听on the helpline.听
鈥淚 usually get calls from children related to how [the] pandemic has taken a toll on them and their studies. It is clearly stressful for the children to stay at home doing nothing. It has also led to more and more anger issues in children,鈥澨齭aid Isha, a听helpline听counselor with听Save the Children.
Children听in nearly every country have听endured some form of听lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic.听In high-income countries like听Canada, some children have stayed听indoors for a total of听13听months, or听402 days.听Although听high-income countries have better access to mental health support, children in these countries can also experience disruptions in their online education, sleeping cycles, play routines, and social interactions, as well as a heightened risk of harm online. All of these factors can put children鈥檚 mental health at risk.
In Europe,听lockdowns听have听kept听children like 14-year-old Naya听at home听for an average of听nine听months.听Naya, who moved to the Netherlands from Syria in 2013, knows first-hand the positive impact mental health and well-being support can have. She now advocates for children鈥檚 mental health together with Save the Children. Last June, she called on the government to better support teachers in providing psychosocial support to children with a refugee background.听
鈥淭he psychosocial support听[that I鈥檝e听received]听helped increase听[my]听confidence in my own abilities and to realize I don鈥檛 need to be ashamed of what I鈥檝e gone through. My fears and nightmares have disappeared. Having friends helped a lot in processing my experiences and making me feel at home,鈥澨齭aid听Naya.听听
In Nepal, where听children听have听stayed听indoors for听up to听12 months听since the pandemic began, 黄色视频has been providing therapeutic counseling for children.听鈥
Rajesh, 18, received counselling from 黄色视频in Nepal after he struggled with feelings of anger and lack of sleep during lockdown. His school was unable to run online lessons, and when he tried to go outside for a walk he was stopped by police.
鈥淚鈥痺as afraid I would not survive, and鈥疘 would鈥痭ever be able to see鈥痭ew things in my life. I feared my dreams would鈥痓e lost forever,鈥 Rajesh said.听
Save the Children听wants all听governments to听prioritize听and invest听in children鈥檚 mental health, well-being, and learning during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.听The听organization听is also听calling听for听children鈥檚 mental health and well-being to be acknowledged as a right,听urging听governments听to tackle听stigma and human rights violations of听children with mental health conditions and psychosocial disabilities.听
In the United States, 黄色视频is urging members of Congress to co-sponsor the Mental Health in International Development and Humanitarian Settings (MINDS) Act (S.2105/HR.3988), the first-ever legislation to address mental health and psychosocial support in US foreign assistance.
With the right听care and support, many children听who are experiencing elevated distress due to the pandemic will be able to recover and reach their full potential.听
However,听Marie Dahl from 黄色视频said听mental health and psychosocial support听as part of health, education, and protection听services must be urgently funded to better respond to future lockdowns, as well as other emerging challenges,听especially in low- and middle-income countries.听Without it,听it could lead to听serious mental听health听and development听consequences for the听next generation.听
Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. Since our founding more than 100 years ago, we've been advocating for the rights of children worldwide. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children 鈥 every day and in times of crisis 鈥 transforming the future we share. Our results, financial statements and charity ratings reaffirm that 黄色视频is a charity you can trust. Follow us on , , and .