Child mental health during COVID-19

• Helping Children Cope with Changes Resulting From COVID-19
  Produced by: National Association of School Psychologists
  The article provides tips on how to communicate with children on COVID-19 measures, be attentive to their mental health needs, and how to support them during this time. (Pages 1,2&4)
• A joint statement on early childhood development and Covid-19: a call for coordinated action to protect and support all young children and their caregivers
  Produced by Early Childhood Development Action Network and partners
  Key messages on an action plan to protect and ensure essential services for the youth and their caregivers
• Supporting your child’s mental health during COVID-19 school returns
  Produced by UNICEF
  The coronavirus outbreak has caused major disruptions to daily life and children are feeling these changes deeply. While the return to school will be not only welcome but exciting for many students, others will be feeling anxious or frightened. The article provides tips to help children navigate some of the complicated emotions they may be facing with going back to school.
• Substantial investment needed to avert mental health crisis
  Produced by: WHO
  COVID-19 has highlighted the need to invest in mental health as a priority. Children similar to other vulnerable groups are also at risk for mental health issues and are in need for psychological support.
• #HealthyAtHome - Mental health
  Produced by: WHO
  This resource provides key messages on how to take care of mental health during lockdown.
• 6 ways parents can support their kids through the COVID-19 outbreak
  Produced by: UNICEF
  The COVID-19 has resulted in anxiety, sadness, stress and uncertainty for children. Parents can use these tips to support their children throughout this pandemic.
• Helping children cope with stress
  Produced by: UNICEF
  Lockdowns can result in anxiety, discomfort, stress. The documents provides guidance for parents to support their children during the COVID-19 pandemic
• UN leads call to protect most vulnerable from mental health crisis during and after COVID-19
  Produced by: UN
  This resource provides key messages on mental health protection for the most vulnerable, including children, during the pandemic.
• ‘Children at risk of lasting psychological distress from coronavirus lockdown’: Save the Children
  Produced by: Save the children
  COVID-19 lockdowns have led to children feeling anxious and distressed, especially those living in poverty and vulnerable. This document calls for the need for early identification of children that are distress, development of continuous support services, monitoring of children in schools, and support parents and teachers.

• Maintaining essential health services: operational guidance for the COVID-19 context.
  Produced by: WHO
  This provides guidance on addressing child mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic (page 27)

• 15 ways to support young children and their families in the COVID-19 response
  Produced by World Bank
  As the global COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold, young children will be especially vulnerable. World Bank teams can work with client countries to support early childhood development (ECD) by leveraging a range of interventions and mechanisms that will be part of the COVID-19 response in every country
• Policy Brief: COVID-19 and the Need for Action on Mental Health
  Produced by UN
  This guidance presents action plans on promoting and ensuring mental health services during the covid-19 pandemic and is also relevant for child mental health.
• Operational considerations for multisectoral mental health and psychosocial support programmesduring the COVID-19 pandemic
  Produced by: IASC
  This guidance presents action plans on maintaining psychological support and mental health services during the covid-19 pandemic
• Mental health and psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak
  Produced by: WHO
  This guidance provides messages for the general public on how to cope with the covid-19 pandemic .
• Community-based health care, including outreach and campaigns, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: Interim guidance
  Produced by: WHO
  This guidance includes practical recommendations for decision makers to help keep communities and health workers safe, to sustain essential services at the community level, including mental health services, and to ensure an effective response to COVID-19. (page 21)

Video: Q&A on COVID-19 and mental health -- #askWHO -- with WHO's Aiysha Malik

Produced by WHO
This recorded video of a Q&A focuses on mental health during COVID-19 and adjustment and coping mechanisms with this new normal without feeling isolated. Also relevant to child mental health.

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