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Lockdown policies have led to significantly more illness among children worldwide, according to a recent study. The aid organization Save the Children reported this today, citing data from the “Oxford Covid-19 Government Response Tracker.”
Cases of depression, anxiety, loneliness and even self-harm have increased. Survey results from more than 13,000 children in 46 countries were considered.
Eighty-three percent of the children reported an increase in negative feelings due to the pandemic, according to the data. These feelings were far more evident among the majority of children (96 percent) after schools had been closed for more than 17 weeks. In developed countries, up to 50 percent of mental illnesses went untreated, while in developing countries the figure was as high as 76 percent to 85 percent, the organization said.
Organization warns of long-term consequences
Marie Dahl, head of mental health at Save the Children, said the coronavirus measures are important to curb the spread of Covid-19. But social isolation can cause anxiety and depression in children, she said. “If this is not addressed, there can be long-term consequences – even if the restrictions are lifted.”
Since the covid-19 pandemic began in 2020, children have lived under legal closures or restrictions for an average of 184 days, the report added. In high-income countries such as Canada, some children have had to stay home for a total of 13 months (402 days), it added. In Europe, the average was nine months. In India, children spent at least 100 days at home.
- source: ORF.at/agencies/picture: pixabay.com
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