COVID-19: Why children’s mental health must remain a priority post-pandemic, UAE experts explain

COVID-19: Why children’s mental health must remain a priority post-pandemic, UAE experts explain

Dubai: From online addiction and school refusal to anxiety disorders and social skills deficit, the COVID-19 pandemic had played havoc with the mental health of many children worldwide. With the perils of the pandemic fading away and most protocols dropped, now is the time to ensure that children’s mental health continues to get priority post-pandemic as well, experts in the UAE said in view of World Mental Health Day (October 10). “The impact on them is more psychological than physical,” he added. Echoing the same, Dr Reena Thomas, clinical psychologist, Medeor Hospital, Dubai, said children, regardless of age, developed more anxiety in social situations due to restricted social opportunities. Under the movement restrictions, many children also lost the valuable opportunities for developing their social skills. School refusal, somatic concerns (constant worry about potential illness), anxiety symptoms, changed sleep and eating habits have been some of the post pandemic concerns among children, the experts said. There were also a few cases of students being anxious for change in friendship groups, said Dr Kshama Lal, psychologist and head of Counselling at GEMS Modern Academy. She added that schools like hers had come up with a lot of initiatives to address the mental