Symposium

Abstract

The COVID 19 pandemic has affected everyone in one form or the other. Children and adolescents seem to be a vulnerable group considering their critical period of development. The pandemic has affected their daily routines. High rates of depression, anxiety and stress reaction has been observed in children and adolescents during the pandemic. Containment measures including closure of schools, isolation and restriction of outdoor activities have impacted their day to day activities. This can additionally lead to difficulties with social development and may in turn contribute to onset of various metal health issues in this age group. Besides onset of new symptoms, children already having mental health issues including psychiatric disorders and neuro developmental disorders may experience an exacerbation of pre-existing symptoms. Disruption of services including medical services, special schools and rehabilitation services also poses one of the major challenges. Witnessing the death of either parent, relatives or both parents to COVID is quite stressful and one of the major psychosocial issues which hasn’t been adequately addressed. This can further lead to mental health issues along with various economic and logistic issues including employment, homelessness, migration and poverty.Addressing these issues includes inter-sectoral coordination and there is pressing need to focus on mental health issues of children and adolescents in a more holistic manner.Order of presentation:Rajesh Sagar – Introduction and overviewPallavi Rajhans – Impact of the pandemic and containment measures on mental health of children and adolescents and on children with special needsBichitra N. Patra – Psychosocial impact of parental job loss, poverty and orphanhood on children and adolescents