New Delhi: With limited movements, school closure, increasing stress, anxiety, screen time and the impact of digital technology on the young mind, there are extensive concerns about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in mental health.
About 14% of 15 to 24 years in India report often feel depressed or have a little interest in doing something, a new report by UNICEF shows.
“There are extensive concerns about the impact of the pandemic about mental health.
Research shows several increased stress and anxiety between children and adolescents.
Mental health caregivers, especially young mothers, are also a concern,” said the report.
Only 41% of young people in India said that it was good to find support for mental health problems, compared with an average of 83% in 21 countries surveyed.
Globally, it is estimated that more than 13% of adolescents aged 10-19 live with mental disorders diagnosed as defined by the World Health Organization.
This represents 86 million teenagers aged 15-19 years and 80 million teenagers aged 10-14 years with mental disorders.
Anxiety and depression make around 40% of this mental disorder diagnosed.
Other disorders include attention deficits, hyperactive disorders, interference, intellectual disability, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, autism, schizophrenia and a group of personality disorders.
Report – “World Children’s State 2021; In My Mind: Promote, Protect and Maintain Mental Health Children”, – Released by Minister of Health Mansukh Mandaviya underlined the role of parenting and family support together with the need for higher investment and development of labor To minimize the risk of mental health disorders.
However, reports highlight that not all children are affected by the same.
“Children and adolescents who face the biggest mental health risk come from disadvantaged families, have the existing mental health conditions or history of adverse childhood experience,” he said.
There are differences in response between boys and girls as well.
While girls are at greater risk of symptoms of depression, anxiety and behavioral problems, boys are at risk of greater than substance abuse.