One out of seven kids has lived under lockdown for at least nine months of the last year

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Published March 5, 2021 at 1:54 am

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Have your kids been struggling during the latest stay-at-home order?

A recent survey from UNICEF found that one out of seven kids—32 million globally—has lived under some form of lockdown, whether recommended or required, for at least nine months since the onset of the pandemic.

According to the results, 139 million children globally have lived under mandatory stay-at-home orders for at least nine months since the onset of the pandemic, while 193 million children have lived under recommended stay-at-home orders.

“The COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdowns that have disrupted every aspect of a child and young person’s childhood are a grim reminder of the sacrifices made by young people over the last year,” David Morley, president and CEO of UNICEF Canada, said in a news release.

“We must emerge from this pandemic with a better approach to child and youth mental health, and that starts by giving this issue the attention it deserves, investing in support services and working towards a brighter future,” he continued.

Additionally, according to a recent poll, 69 per cent of youths said the pandemic is having a negative or very negative impact on their mental health.

Further, Canada ranked 31st out of 38 wealthy countries in mental health and happiness and has one of the highest rates of adolescent suicide.

Moreover, according to the World Health Organization, the pandemic has disrupted or halted critical mental health services in 93 per cent of countries worldwide, yet the demand for mental health support is increasing.

“If we did not fully appreciate the urgency prior to the COVID-19 pandemic—surely we do now,” Henrietta Fore, executive director for UNICEF, said in the same release.

“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 programs to ensure that children from vulnerable families get the support and protection they need at home,” she continued.

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