Corona & Children

The current situation is difficult for all of us. We’re stuck inside. We can’t do the things we like to do. We can’t spend time with each other or go out and have fun. Young people are being hit especially hard. Some face abuse, others are dealing with mental illnesses, and poverty is even harder than ever for kids of low income families.

Mental illness is extremely prevalent in children as half of all psychiatric illnesses occur before the age of 14. About 22% of children in the US had or currently have a psychiatric illness. These numbers are alarming. In recent years there has been more concern and more research on mental health problems in children. Some credit this to increased screen time and an inability to connect with other people. Being forced to stay inside is incredibly damaging in these cases. Sunlight and interaction with other people releases “happiness hormones” also known as serotonin. The imbalance can cause low energy, depression, and anxiety. Being stuck inside all day is detrimental to the health of growing kids.

Quarantine also has a negative effect on families in low income households. Of the students enrolled in school in the city of Los Angeles, about 29% of them are impoverished. With the recent sweep of unemployment due to Coronavirus, some families are really struggling. Childcare is difficult to find in low income areas. Now children are at home with no one to watch them. Neglect is the most common form of abuse with almost 50% of abuse cases being due to neglect. Parents are overextending themselves to try and feed their families on minimum wage salaries and trying to give proper attention to their children. Kids are going hungry, are not getting help with schoolwork and are becoming isolated.

Quarantine does not affect everyone in the same way. A variety of factors are involved. Children around the world not only are having important things canceled, they are also being put in potentially dangerous situations. This might make kids act out, have decreased performance in school and their mental health can suffer. With all of these layers school might be the last thing on any kid’s mind. While we might all be physically separated, we should be doing whatever we can to help those who are struggling more than others. We need to help each other out by donating time, money and services however we can. We also need to find ways to reach out to each other to help kids in need. Don’t forget as hard as things are for you, there is probably a kid in a more difficult situation out there.