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Interim Guidance on Supporting the Emotional and Behavioral Health Needs of Children, Adolescents, and Families During the COVID-19 Pandemic [Webpage].
American Academy of Pediatrics.
Technical Report
Webpage
1 HTML page
Copyright
Published: constantly updated
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
141 Northwest Point Boulevard
Elk Grove, IL 60007-1098
Tel: 847-434-4000
Fax: 847-434-8000
kidsdocs@aap.org
Available From:http://www.aap.org
View: https://bit.ly/3mnxwSt
This brief explains the COVID-19 pandemic has created profound challenges for communities, families, and individuals leading to a range of emotional and behavioral responses. It then reviews symptoms and signs associated with emotional and behavioral reactions to stress among children and adolescents, and shares: infants and toddlers may manifest distress through disruptions of physiologic functions like sleep, toileting, and feeding, may have difficulty with separation, and may regress in their skills or become more irritable or socially withdrawn; preschool children may demonstrate emerging behaviors akin to anxiety, perseverative behaviors, obsessive thoughts, compulsive practices, or agoraphobia; older children and adolescents may express their distress through internalizing symptoms such as withdrawal, fearfulness, and overt anxiety, externalizing behaviors such as oppositionality, irritability, argumentativeness, and aggression, or somatic symptoms such as abdominal pain or headaches; and adolescents and young adults may be able to verbalize their distress but may also present their distress as irritability, lack of concentration, declining school performance, and substance use. Factors that may increase the risk of symptom severity are reviewed, as well as other factors that influence the impact and manifestations of stress in infants, children, and adolescents. Finally, strategies pediatricians can use for evaluating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on emotional and behavioral health are reviewed, as well as strategies for providing guidance to parents on child emotional and behavioral health, and considerations for referral and follow-up care. Links are provided for additional resources.
Keywords:
COVID-19; DISASTER RESPONSE; MENTAL HEALTH; CHILD HEALTH; EMOTIONS; EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS; BEHAVIORAL HEALTH; FAMILIES; FAMILY PROBLEMS; CHILD DEVELOPMENT; ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT; PEDIATRICIANS; PEDIATRICIANS ROLE; PEDIATRICS; SOCIAL ISOLATION