30.1 COVID-19–Related Deaths and Children's Traumatic Stress Reactions: What Makes These Deaths Different?

Abstract

To date, more than 200,000 American children have experienced the COVID-19–related death of a parent or primary caregiver, with communities of color being disproportionately impacted. The nature and contexts of these deaths may contribute to these children’s risk for developing PTSD reactions to them. This presentation describes specific characteristics of the COVID-19 pandemic that can contribute to PTSD reactions across development, with a focus on behavioral health disparities.