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School Closures Harm Kids' Mental Health
9 Dec
Summary
- Children had a 43% lower risk of mental health diagnosis after reopening.
- Girls particularly benefited from returning to in-person schooling.
- Spending on psychiatric drugs decreased by 8% post-reopening.
School closures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic are significantly associated with increased mental health issues among children, including depression, anxiety, and ADHD. A recent study analyzed health records of over 185,700 children aged 5 to 18 between March 2020 and June 2021.
Children whose schools reopened sooner exhibited lower rates of mental health problems compared to those with prolonged closures. Notably, after schools reopened, children had a 43% reduced risk of a mental health diagnosis, with spending on psychiatric medications decreasing by 8%.
These findings underscore the vital role of in-person schooling in children's overall well-being. Researchers emphasize that during future public health emergencies, prioritizing safe school reopenings and ensuring access to school-provided social and emotional resources should be paramount.
