“Children in India have been through a challenging time living through the risks and restrictions ….,” says UNICEF.
By Andalib Akhter / Nirendra Dev
As deadly COVID-19 enters into its third year, the impact on children and young people’s mental health and their well-being continues to be a matter of concern worldwide particularly in Indian subcontinent. According to the latest available data from UNICEF, globally, at least 1 in 7 children has been directly affected by lockdowns, while more than 1.6 billion children have suffered some loss of education. The disruption to routines, education, recreation, as well as concern for family income and health, is leaving many young people feeling afraid, angry, depressed and concerned for their future.
According to the latest available estimates, more than 1 in 7 adolescents aged 10–19 is estimated to live with a diagnosed mental disorder globally. Almost 46,000 adolescents die from suicide each year, among the top five causes of death for their age group.
“With nationwide lockdowns and pandemic-related movement restrictions, children have spent indelible years of their lives away from family, friends, classrooms, play – key elements of childhood itself,” said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore. “The impact is significant, and it is just the tip of the iceberg. Even before the pandemic, far too many children were burdened under the weight of unaddressed mental health issues.
Indeed, the pandemic has taken its toll. According to early findings from an international survey of children and adults in 21 countries conducted by UNICEF and Gallup – which is previewed in The State of the World’s Children 2021 – a median of 1 in 5 young people aged 15–24 surveyed said they often feel depressed or have little interest in doing things.
Meanwhile, wide gaps persist between mental health needs and mental health funding. The report finds that about 2 per cent of government health budgets are allocated to mental health spending globally.
It may also not be fair to blame everything on Covid19 pandemic. The world had even prior to that turned individual and at best nuclear-family centric, and that too with one child or no child norm.
Some middle-class couples would be earning handsomely, yet happiness and satisfaction eluded them. Father was worried about next career jump or foreign posting, the woman of the house was not happy with just one Indian car for the entire family, where her sister had three.
The kid too was not happy as his/her parents wanted him to mug study materials, score marks and also at times do well in school debates.
All these combined gave the family a new malady called depression.
Worse set in around 2020 -21. The national lockdown, economic crisis. The children lost touch with the outside world, gained weight and friendship became sharing nasty jokes on whatsapp.
Some took to smoking and alcoholism. The uncertainty meant more depression, phobias and jealousy.
Mental health professionals in India see personal wellbeing of individuals going for a toss. The crisis is global and more so in countries like India, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
The first-ever global estimate of Covid-19 pandemic’s impact on mental health showed that cases of these ailments and especially depression increased globally by around 28 percent.
The year gone by, 2021, threw in many social challenges. Hence it is time to hold the bull by its horns. There was an increase in ‘anxiety’ percentage too by about 25 per cent.
One claim has been – more than ever before people googled, “How to maintain mental health or fight depression?”.
“Children in India have been through a challenging time living through the risks and restrictions posed by the pandemic. Nothing could have prepared them for the onslaught of the second wave of the pandemic that hit India earlier in 2021. Children witnessed suffering and uncertainties that no child should have to see,” said a senior UNICEF India official.
Psychiatrists and sociologists say the challenge is a harsh reality, with no point in mere lamenting or simply gossiping or sharing about it on social media.
More important is to take “adequate and appropriate measures”, said an Assam-based medico Dr Haripada Sen.
Specialists on the condition of anonymity in Delhi said last year, “it’s important to tackle the problem of mental stress immediately”. Or else the cautioning could be mild, but serious – mankind is heading for a major health and social crisis.
“I see a lot of cases of panic attacks and people with bursts of fear or anxiety,” psychiatrist Anjali Nagpal says in Delhi.
The UNICEF report further said – “The survey findings, which are previewed in The State of the World’s Children 2021, also found that around 14 percent of 15 to 24-year-olds in India, or 1 in 7, reported often feeling depressed or having little interest in doing things”.
It elaborated on the findings, “The proportion ranged from almost one in three in Cameroon, one in seven in India and Bangladesh, to as low as one in ten in Ethiopia and Japan”.
In fact, the crisis is global in true form. Across 21 countries, the median was one in five young people. If the ‘New Year’ bash and hyped media attention on politics and farmers’ agitation etc are over, it is now time to pull up sleeves for concrete actions.
UNICEF has said that: “In India, children with mental health disorders are mostly undiagnosed and hesitant in seeking help or treatment”.
In fact, the ‘Indian Journal of Psychiatry in 2019’, even before the pandemic outbreak had said at least 50 million children in India were affected with mental health issues; 80 – 90 per cent have not sought support.
Theoretically, common steps that can be followed with depressed ones is first his relatives, near and dear ones and even friends need to ‘acknowledge’ their pain by reminding them that their feelings of hurt are ‘valid’.
They have to be told that their life and views matter. They ought to be reassured that if handled properly their life can turn better. It is also crucial to be ‘respectful’ to their views and never dismiss them or make jokes.
However, social workers like Jhanty Dey in Asansol in West Bengal say – “People in India believe in the strength of family. People are showing faith in near and dear ones and even taking therapy sessions”.
Theoretically again, some symptoms could be noticed in an individual and so his or her near and dear ones ought to take note of some of these problems.
Jhantu Dey says, “Keep an eye on someone who feels ‘hopeless’ about life even if he does not get his/her morning cup of tea. This could be a mood swing, but it may have a mental reason for depression.
If someone uses alcohol or even medicines excessively. There could be side effects”. Of course, there ought to be a wholesome approach at societal and even government levels.
Even private sector partners could be involved to ‘promote mental health for all children, adolescents and caregivers and the other vulnerable people.
Despite the need to pay urgent attention towards the crisis, the wide gaps persist between mental health needs and mental health funding. According a report about 2 per cent of government health budgets are allocated to mental health spending globally.