Supporting Children’s Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic
While moststates haveclosedschoolsandmadesocial distancing a priority toaddresstheCOVID-19pandemic, parents may be wondering how theycan help theirchildrencope with being houseboundandphysically cut off fromfriends and family.
Sticking to a schedule, explaining the importance of social distancingin an age-appropriatemanner,stayingconnectedthroughtechnology, and seeking outmental health supportby usingtelemedicineall can help.
Inthis time of uncertainty,thestructureofadailyroutineprovides predictability, saidDr. Justin Mohatt,vicechairforchild andadolescentpsychiatry,vicechair forfacultypractice of the Department of Psychiatry,andanassistantprofessor ofclinicalpsychiatryat֭Ƶ.
“Your teenager needs structure, your7-year-old needs it, andso doesyour2-year-old,”he said, adding thatpredictabilityhelps to reduce anxiety as well as potential conflicts betweenparents and their kids.Parents should create a schedule thatincludesregular wake-up and bedtimes, mealtimes,andhome schoolinghours, inaddition toopportunities for funandsafe socializingsuch as group chats, virtual house parties, and going for walks or bike rides with a friend at a safe6 footdistance.
Understanding the concept ofsocial distancingwhile out in publicisage-dependent. Teens, for example, seem tohavethe most difficulty withsocial distancing, which makes perfect developmental sense, said Dr. Mohatt, who is alsoanassistantattendingpsychiatrist atNewYork-Presbyterian/֭Ƶ Medical Center.“T’rsupposedto beforming social relationships outside of the family, sothey’re naturallydrivento see their friends,”he said.
Anotherreasonteensmight not believe social distancing is necessary is that earlydataindicatesthey don’t haveashigh a risk of becoming seriously ill fromCOVID-19as adults.Theymay need to hear about the details of the pandemic to better understand why social distancing is necessary.Parentscanreinforce toteensthat even if they're not personally athighriskof serious health consequences, they can still transmitSARS-CoV-2toolderadults who have a higherrisk of becomingseriously ill,such as their grandparents or other loved ones, Dr. Mohatt said.
In contrast to teens, younger children aremuch more contentto spend time with their parents at homeand are more accepting of social distancing.Toddlers and young school-agechildren have lessofa need to see their friends, Dr. Mohattexplained.However,theymaystill havequestions about why theycan’t see their classmates, grandparents,andother family members.
Young childrentypically donot have the ability to understandcurrent eventswith as much sophistication as teenagers, soparents shouldkeeptheir explanations about the pandemic simple.“Ifvisitingthegrandparentsisn’t possible right nowbecause you’re afraid of thehealth risksto them, you can simply say,‘We can'tseethemright now, but we'll seethemsoon,’or,‘We'll talk tothemon the phone later,’”Dr. Mohattsuggested.
In addition to phone calls, parents can helpchildrenof all agesmaintain social ties by embracingonlinevideochatting.Kidscan feel connected to friends and family by usingappsand softwaresuch as FaceTimeorZoom.
While parents may have concerns about too much screen time, “Ithink alot of us have to be prepared to relax our restrictions a little bit,”Dr. Mohatt said.“Ifthe family rule has beenthat kids can have screen timeonly on weekends, that might not bedoable right now.”Parents may even want to encourage their teens to use social media apps like Snapchat and Instagram more than they normally wouldto feel connectedto their peers.
The good news is that while researchers don’t yet have data on howsocial distancing andthe pandemic isaffectingchildren’s mental health, “we do have a lot of evidenceshowing that in theface of traumatic events, most kids do really well,” Dr. Mohatt said.“They’re resilient and adaptive.”While some childrenwho have experienced traumatic eventshave short-termproblemswith anxiety ordepression,most don’thave lasting psychological effects, he said.
Parents canhelpbylooking aftertheir ownmental health. Young children are especially prone to picking up on their parents’moods,especiallyanxiety, soit is just as important for parents to maintain structure, routine, social connections and healthy habits. Incaringfor themselvesin this way,they can care for their children and simultaneously modelthebehaviors they expect ofthem.
֭Ƶ mental health professionalsalsoare deliveringtheircareto existing clientsvia telemedicineduring the pandemic,said Dr. Mohatt. “We can continue to fully support our families during this time,and we hope thattheywill take advantage of that,”he said.
All of us at֭Ƶunderstand that this is a difficult time for all New Yorkers. As experts in immunology, pulmonary medicine, and critical care medicine, we are working diligently to provide the greatest possible care to patients in need.
We are available to all NewYorkerswho have questions or concerns. Please call our hotline at (646) 697-4000 for information about COVID-19 or read ourpatient guide.