Many children have had to undergo psychiatric examination since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic

The survey was conducted by the Mott Children’s Hospital of the University of Michigan Medical School and the Children’s Hospital Association in October 2021 with the participation of 1,201 parents with children aged 11-18.

An association of child care organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) and the Pediatric Hospital Association, earlier this fall last year declared children’s mental health during COVID-19 a public health crisis. The association drew the conclusion from data collected from March to October 2020 that there was a 24% increase in emergency room visits related to mental health among children aged 5-11. and 31% for children aged 12-17.

Pediatrician Gary L. Freed said a growing number of psychiatric disorders, including depression and anxiety, predated the pandemic. He stressed that the pandemic has caused significant stress and disruption to children’s social functioning, potentially exacerbating these problems, as more and more children face problems with their health. mental. This expert also said that this places more burden on parents as well as medical facilities in detecting potential signs of disease.

About a third of parents surveyed said their child had a mental health check during routine visits, while 40% of respondents said their child was asked by doctors about their health status. their mental health. According to Dr. Freed, regular visits are an ideal time for doctors to discuss children’s mental health with parents, and children should feel comfortable talking about their mental health issues with their doctor. his officer.