Covid-19 lockdown policies trigger mental health alert for 332 million children: Unicef | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Food
    • Habitat
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • TBS Graduates
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Tech
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Tuesday
December 05, 2023

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Food
    • Habitat
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • TBS Graduates
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Tech
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 05, 2023
Covid-19 lockdown policies trigger mental health alert for 332 million children: Unicef

Coronavirus chronicle

TBS Report
05 March, 2021, 11:55 am
Last modified: 05 March, 2021, 12:00 pm

Related News

  • Initiating mental health and psychosocial support at the community level in Bangladesh 
  • UNDP launches campaign on mental health resilience to combat cyberbullying
  • 35% post-Covid migrants return as they didn’t get any jobs: Study
  • Gaza 'most dangerous place in the world to be a child': UNICEF
  • Indian researchers find no link between sudden death and Covid shots

Covid-19 lockdown policies trigger mental health alert for 332 million children: Unicef

With at least one in seven forced to remain at home under nationwide public health orders, the children are left feeling isolated and anxious about their future

TBS Report
05 March, 2021, 11:55 am
Last modified: 05 March, 2021, 12:00 pm
UNICEF is providing children with mental health support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo: UNICEF/Berulava via UN News
UNICEF is providing children with mental health support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo: UNICEF/Berulava via UN News

Unicef has said that the mental health of tens of millions of children are at risk as more than 330 million children have been stranded at home for at least nine months.

With at least one in seven forced to remain at home under nationwide public health orders, the children are left feeling isolated and anxious about their future, says a UN report. 

"Tens and tens of millions of youngsters have been left feeling isolated and afraid and lonely and anxious because of these enforced lockdowns and isolations that have become as a result of this pandemic," said Unicef spokesperson James Elder.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

He said countries needed to emerge from this pandemic "with a better approach, a better approach to child and adolescent mental health, and that probably starts just by giving the issue the attention it deserves."

Mental vulnerabilities

According to Unicef, half of all mental illnesses begin before the age of 15, and the majority of the 800,000 people who die by suicide each year are under the age of 18.

According to the UN, the pandemic has interrupted or halted vital mental health programs in 93% of countries around the world.

Unicef Executive Director, Henrietta Fore, said that when day after day "you are away from your friends and distant loved ones, and perhaps even stuck at home with an abuser, the impact is significant.

"Many children are left feeling afraid, lonely, anxious, and concerned for their future. We must emerge from this pandemic with a better approach to child and adolescent mental health, and that starts by giving the issue the attention it deserves."

For children experiencing violence, neglect or abuse at home, lockdowns have left many stranded with abusers. Children in vulnerable population groups - like those living and working on the streets, children with disabilities, and children living in conflict settings - risk having their mental health needs overlooked entirely.

According to WHO, the Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted or halted critical mental health services in 93 per cent of countries worldwide, while the demand for mental health support is increasing.

Unicef responding

To respond to growing needs, the agency has offered support to Governments and partners to prioritize services for children.

In Kazakhstan, this has led to the launch of a Unicef platform for individual online counselling services, alongside distance training in schools for mental health specialists.

In China, the agency has also worked with social media company Kuaishou, to produce an online challenge to help reduce anxiety in children.

Later this year, Unicef will dedicate its biennial flagship report on the state of the world's children, to child and adolescent mental health, in a bid to increase awareness of the global challenge, exacerbated profoundly by the coronavirus.

Boost investment

"If we did not fully appreciate the urgency prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, surely we do now", said Fore.

Countries must dramatically invest in expanded mental health services and support for young people and their caregivers in communities and schools. We also need scaled-up parenting programmes to ensure that children from vulnerable families get the support and protection they need at home."

Top News / World+Biz

COVID-19 / lockdown / mental health / children / Unicef

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Dollar pressure rises as short-term foreign debt drops $300m in October
    Dollar pressure rises as short-term foreign debt drops $300m in October
  • Record 27% nominations scrapped with  more bigshots rejected
    Record 27% nominations scrapped with  more bigshots rejected
  • File photo of Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader
    Awami League scraps 10 Dec rally as permission denied

MOST VIEWED

  • LPG cylinders. Photo: Courtesy
    12kg LPG cylinder price up Tk23
  • For the first time, Bangladesh seeks foreign loans to support Rohingyas
    For the first time, Bangladesh seeks foreign loans to support Rohingyas
  • Photo: Collected
    Indonesia volcano erupts, spews ash 3 km into sky
  • External trade through Islamic banks in decline
    External trade through Islamic banks in decline
  • Halal products export receives boost with new policy, but more is required
    Halal products export receives boost with new policy, but more is required
  • Exports up 27% in Nov as peak festival sales begin in West
    Exports up 27% in Nov as peak festival sales begin in West

Related News

  • Initiating mental health and psychosocial support at the community level in Bangladesh 
  • UNDP launches campaign on mental health resilience to combat cyberbullying
  • 35% post-Covid migrants return as they didn’t get any jobs: Study
  • Gaza 'most dangerous place in the world to be a child': UNICEF
  • Indian researchers find no link between sudden death and Covid shots

Features

A brain drain query: Why do they leave?

A brain drain query: Why do they leave?

1h | Panorama
The school has been flooding since June 2007 and the water level is rising every year. PHOTO: COURTESY

Will Dubai pay heed to the suffering of Sultan Al Nahyan School students in Bangladesh?

1h | Panorama
Masud Ahmad has written one of the finest Bangla novels in recent times, titled ‘Kanchanfuler Kobi,’ centred around the life and works of eminent poet Jibanananda Das. Photo: Rajib Dhar

How little-known Masud Ahmad became the 'Shera Bangali'

1d | Panorama
Designed for utility, the D90 is a giant in comparison to other MG models and misses out on design elements which gives the other models their sporty stance. Photo: Akif Hamid

Maxus D90: Spacious, capable and practical

1d | Wheels

More Videos from TBS

Despite the incentives, remittances are not speeding up

Despite the incentives, remittances are not speeding up

13h | TBS Economy
Terrible Torture in Israeli Prisons: Testimony of Prisoners

Terrible Torture in Israeli Prisons: Testimony of Prisoners

11h | TBS World
Lighterage ship trips halved

Lighterage ship trips halved

13h | TBS Economy
3 commercial ships hit by missiles in Houthi attack in Red Sea

3 commercial ships hit by missiles in Houthi attack in Red Sea

14h | TBS World
EMAIL US
[email protected]
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2023
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - [email protected]

For advertisement- [email protected]