Mental Health and Substance Use Considerations Among Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic
By Nirmita Panchal, Rabah Kamal, Cynthia Cox, Rachel Garfield, and Priya Chidambaram
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hildren have experienced major life disruptions (e.g. social isolation, financial hardship, school closures, and gaps in health care access) resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and necessary public health safety measures put in place to quell its spread. Rising numbers of parents report the worsening of their children’s mental health – in May 2020, shortly after the pandemic began, 29% said their child’s mental or emotional health was already harmed; in more recent research from October 2020, 31% of parents said their child’s mental or emotional health was worse since the pandemic began. Data collected since last fall indicate that number is increasing. Some children exhibit increased irritability, clinginess, and fear, and have issues with sleeping and poor appetite. Others show growing, severe symptoms. ARKANSAS HOSPITALS | FALL 2021 23
