This week is #childrensmentalhealthweek. Many of us are struggling with the realities of living through a pandemic. From anxieties about our future, our finances, and our safety, to the general difficulties in losing our ability to socialise and get access to physical and emotional support from our families. All of which is true, not only for adults, but for children as well.
The Covid-19 pandemic is perhaps better understood as a collective trauma, meaning that it will have long last implications for everyone involved. Ensuring that children's mental health is prioritised in the future is paramount. The negative impact of having almost a year away from their peers is likely to have significant consequences in the emotional and psychological development for many teenagers. Between the ages of (approx) 13-25, we are developing our sense of self in relation to our peers and the world around us. Something which must be particularly challenging when we find ourselves in isolation.
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
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