Tribune News Network
Doha
According to a new study from the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), in collaboration with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the COVID-19 pandemic has deteriorated the psycho-social wellbeing of school-age children from 11 years and upwards in Qatar.
The pandemic has also led to an increase in anxiety and stress, leading to a disruption in their sleep cycle. The initial results of the study, which is still ongoing, were presented and discussed at WISH’s most recent global gathering from October 4 to 6.
“Worryingly, our findings show that children’s psycho-social well-being has declined as a result of the pandemic. As we build back stronger, more efficient and more resilient healthcare systems, governments as well as health and education systems must place children at the centre of our national recovery through ambitious and concrete plans. The time to act is now. Investing in mental health programmes for children and raising awareness should also be crucial priorities,” said Dr Sanaa Al-Harahsheh, research manager, WISH.
Globally, one in seven adolescents (10 to 19-year-olds) experience a mental disorder, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Protecting them from adversity, promoting socio-emotional learning and psychological well-being, and ensuring access to mental health care are critical for their health and well-being during adolescence and adulthood. According to UNICEF, 50 percent of all mental health disorders start by age 14.
“Certainly, the pandemic created new risks for children’s mental health (as for adults) that must not be underestimated. Ongoing high-quality support services will be needed. Our research also shows a different perspective. It highlights the important contribution that children have made to the way that societies coped with the pandemic, the new insights and skills that they gained, and the central and active role that they can play if given the opportunity to help build and shape our future,” said Dr. Gwyther Rees, Social & Economic Policy Manager, UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti.
At WISH 2022, research partners from WISH and UNICEF emphasized that investment in developing more robust mental health services and putting in place sufficient community programs is crucial for this group’s mental and social wellbeing.
The initial findings further show that many school age children were left vulnerable during the pandemic due to excessive time spent in front of screens, reduced physical activity, and lack of social interactions, often causing delays in academic achievements and leading to lowered self-esteem.
“Our study goes a step further and also explores the unequal impact of COVID-19 on children with disabilities or special needs, and those with certain learning difficulties.
Some interesting findings based on health and income disparities were also uncovered where children with compromised immune systems, underlying medical conditions and children of parents with lower income showed greater anxiety and stress symptoms,” said Al-Harahsheh.
The research has been conducted in three secondary schools in Qatar. The study aims to inform effective responses to children’s ongoing support needs, including a response to their experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic. This project will also lay the foundation for informing the development of necessary intervention programs in Qatar’s schools to promote better psycho-social wellbeing. The full study is expected to be completed by the end of January 2023.
