Research progress on mental health of school-age children under major public health emergencies

Abstract

Children were vulnerable groups in major public health emergencies. In 2020, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was widespread in the world. The mental health of school-age children has become a worldwide concern. Herein, we conducted this review to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of general children and special children with a high risk of psychological problems, focusing on the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder among school-age children in different countries and regions during the COVID-19 epidemic. Considering the susceptibility between individuals and the accessibility of social resources, we further explored the child, family, and social related factors affecting the mental health of school-age children. Finally, some suggestions on the construction of children’s mental health service system in major public health emergencies were put forward at the national, school-family-community, and individual levels. Building a safe and reliable child mental health protection network required the joint efforts of all sectors of society.

Abstract

【摘要】 儿童是重大突发公共卫生事件中的脆弱易感人群, 2020 年新型冠状病毒肺炎疫情在世界范围内大规模流行, 学 龄儿童心理健康成为全世界关注的问题。研究通过对新冠肺炎疫情对一般儿童以及心理问题本身髙发的特殊儿童群体心 理健康问题的影响进行综述, 重点阐述了新冠肺炎疫情期间不同国家和地区学龄儿童焦虑、抑郁和创伤后应激障碍问题的 患病情况, 考虑到个体间的易感性与社会资源可及性, 研究进一步探究了影响学龄儿童心理健康的儿童、家庭及社会相关 因素, 最后从国家、学校-家庭-社区和个人层面对重大突发公共卫生事件中儿童心理健康服务体系建设提出了建议, 为构 筑一个安全、可靠的儿童心理健康防护网络需要社会各方的共同努力。