It has been nearly two years since the coronavirus disease was declared a pandemic. Social distancing measures have led to school closures in many countries around the world, and repeated follow-up measures have led to a large degree of inconsistency in the delivery of education for many children.
In the Americas alone, schools remained closed for more than 41 weeks. One year into the pandemic, nearly 50% of students worldwide were still facing partial or complete closures of school. Although many students were able to navigate these circumstances with and even saw an improvement in their mental health status, a significant number were unable to do so.
The mental health effects of the pandemic and subsequent disease mitigation effects are well documented in adult populations. However, relatively fewer studies are available that assess the mental health impact of the pandemic in pediatric populations.
Youth spend a significant portion of their time in school, and alongside educational benefits, students also receive the opportunity for social interaction. For youth with pre-existing mental health problems, schools and the routines that come with it are protective and serve as coping mechanismsThis is not something that is well replicated in the virtual education environment, leading youth to miss out on important and enriching social experiences. Although the closure of schools has served well in protecting children from COVID-19 infection, the effects on mental health require further consideration.