Four ways to help kids and teens cope with COVID-19 stresses
Published 1:30 am Sunday, April 25, 2021
Parents are celebrating the return of children to the classroom. Educators, health professionals and parents all agree — kids need to be in school. Given the challenges that we’ve all faced, I’m amazed at how well we’ve adapted and coped with the public health demands of the pandemic. Hats off to parents and teachers who have made online school work.
But the pandemic has taken its toll on children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in a recent pulse survey, found a 24% increase in 2020 from 2019 in mental health-related emergency room visits for children 5 to 11 years old.
Teens have struggled even more. They’ve had a 31% increase of mental health-related ER visits from 2019. In a March study in the journal Pediatrics, researchers found that suicidal ideation and gestures in teens were 1.77 times more likely in July 2020 than in same month in July 2019.
I suspect that these numbers reflect just the tip of the iceberg. Likely there are many children suffering in less dramatic ways.
Dr. Alka Atal-Barrio, a long-time pediatrician in our community and chief medical officer at The Everett Clinic, shared her observations of kids and families during the last year
“When COVID first hit, there were lots of happy kids of all ages — more time at home, more time with family, Mom and Dad at home and minimal school,” she said. “Then fall of 2020 — anxiety about reengaging in school, missing their friends, getting tired of Mom and Dad looking over their shoulders, no sports and no outlets. In October 2020, we started seeing stress-related physical problems, and anxiety and depression became 75% of my day. I saw suicide rates rising. I send one kid to the emergency room per week with a suicide attempt.”
Dr. Zsolt Lorant, child psychiatrist at The Everett Clinic’s Center for Behavioral Health, expressed how the pandemic is weighing on children.
“When I ask kids how they’re doing, more often than not they say their tired,” he said. “I’m sure it means they’re tired of what’s going on, tired of the virus, tired because their sleep schedule is messed up, tired because they feel restless, tired because they move less, tired of not living a normal life … just tired.”
I get how they’re feeling.
As we move toward more widespread vaccination and the hoped-for reduction in community spread of COVID, our lives should return closer to what was normal.
I am hopeful that young children will bounce back quickly. I am more concerned about older kids who may have more difficulty moving forward. Sometimes when crises are over, there is an increase of mental health concerns, like aftershocks from an earthquake. It will be important for parents and teachers to be vigilant.
How can we help kids cope?
Encourage kids to get outside. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises: “Encouraging children and adolescents to participate in physical activities and spend time outdoors with peers, while practicing risk mitigation strategies, can help improve physical and mental health.” With longer days and warmer weather, turn off the gaming devices, which have been heavily used during the pandemic, and send the kids outdoors.
Family meals are important. Many studies have demonstrated that teens have better outcomes in families that have meals together. It’s an opportunity to connect, to discuss issues of the day and to enjoy time together while doing something that most teenagers like to do — eat. For ideas on how to make meals special check out familydinnerproject.org, a program from Massachusetts General Hospital that provides tips and ideas on how to improve the quality of family meals.
Be on the lookout for possible problems. Withdrawn behavior, isolation, loss of interest in usual activities, physical aches and pains, restricted eating, binge eating, sleep problems, more frequent meltdowns or excessive worry can be signs that your youngster needs help. Teens, who are not big talkers, may keep their feelings in, making it harder to know what’s going on with them.
Share your concerns with your pediatric care provider. The pandemic has resulted in an explosion of telehealth visits. If you are concerned about your youngster, schedule an in-person or telehealth visit with your pediatric provider. They can help you sort out what to do.
Paul Schoenfeld is a clinical psychologist at The Everett Clinic. His Family Talk blog can be found at www.everettclinic.com/health-wellness-library.html.
