When the COVID-19 pandemic took the world by storm in early 2020, many thought it would be a month or two of inconvenience before we returned to normal. As of August 2021, we are navigating the 'next normal’, a balancing act between protecting health, restoring the economy and attempting to resume normal life. After more than a year of public safety measures designed to protect us, the impact of social isolation, financial hardship and stress at home, is becoming apparent in children. With variants of the virus spreading rapidly and one in four Americans choosing not to be vaccinated, many of these safety measures may be with us for the long term.
A Kaiser Family Foundation study in May 2020 found that 29% of parents reported poor mental health in their child. By October 2020, this figure had grown to 31%. A year later, in May 2021, the Children’s Hospital of Chicago surveyed 1,000 parents across the country and found that 71% believed the pandemic had taken a toll on their child’s mental health.
Children’s mental health is as important as their physical health. Emotional wellness helps children develop the resilience they will need for coping with situations in later life, enabling them to live their happiest and healthiest lives.
What are psychotherapists seeing?
Prior to the pandemic, one in five children had been diagnosed with a mental illness. In 2021, mental health issues have significantly increased, disproportionately impacting children of color and LGBTQ youth, and worsening in children already managing mental health concerns.
An American Psychiatric Association survey found that 49% of parents have sought help from a mental health professional for their child since the start of the pandemic. Psychotherapists and parents are reporting increases in anxiety and depression as well as other symptoms, including trouble with sleeping, appetite changes, irritability and separation anxiety.
In the United States, an estimated 40,000 children have lost a parent to COVID-19, many have endured financial hardship and homelessness as a consequence of the economic impact of the pandemic. In 2020, the CDC reported a year-on-year increase in children’s visits to the ER for mental health issues increased by 24% (in children aged 5-11) and 31% in children aged 12-17 years.
How can I help my child?
If you’ve noticed a difference in your child’s behavior, the first thing to do is start talking. Asking your child about their feelings can help them feel supported and heard and allows them to begin expressing and processing their emotions. Some children will find this easier than others, and for those who can’t or don’t want to talk, there are options like art therapy, where they can paint or draw to make sense of their feelings.
Psychotherapists trained in working with children can recommend different approaches to help your child. These can include therapeutic conversations, which help children become aware of their thoughts and feelings and helps the child through the process of changing those thoughts and the emotional reactions and behaviors that go along with them. Play therapy, which helps children express repressed thoughts and emotions through play, and therapy that involves the whole family to help children make sense of their feelings, and help the family interact in new, different ways that may improve functioning.
Family Relations Intervention works with children, particularly adolescents, and their families using traditional therapy methods to guide them toward healing. Contact us today for a confidential discussion about how we can help your family.