According to the journal Lancet Psychiatry, fear of infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and other factors kept people away from hospitals, while the risks of children and adolescents suffering from mental illness surged.

Children spent more time watching TV and using mobile devices, so the physical activity levels decreased, while experiencing the consequences of job loss of their guardians, family violence and parental stress.

All of these factors increase mental distress, and even though children are able to withstand hard times, the Covid-19 pandemic pushed them beyond limits of what they could tolerate and the capacity to react to complex stages.

The more stress, the more pressing need for resources to counteract it.

Scientists called for priority to be given to this issue, as the surge in mental health cases in children and teens cannot be ignored. pll/mem/joe