The consequences of social isolation and school disruption for kids have been devastating. Many parents are struggling as well, trying to help with online school while balancing a job at home as well as household work, a challenge that has led women, who are carrying the majority of the burden, to leave the workforce in droves. In a span of 6 months last year, 2.2 million women left the workforce, and 100% of jobs lost in December were for women.
The pandemic has taken a huge toll on our mental health across the board. Depression and anxiety rates are skyrocketing, prompting a spike in linked issues like opioid addiction, which has increased by 40%. Suicide hotlines are showing a 65% increase, mostly from senior citizens and teens.
SEE: Depression: Symptoms and Treatment
For kids, many of these mental health pressures are tied to online schooling. When we took kids out of classrooms, they lost not only a sense of structure but also a much-needed outlet for socialization — a place where they can play with and talk to their classmates and friends.
There are other important problems that are snowballing as well. Kids with special learning needs and disabilities have been at home without services. One in 4 kids who are food insecure aren’t getting the lunches that they would get at school. Many kids don’t have laptops or internet connections at home and may not be learning at all, which can result in years lost in development and education.
One significant, and understandable, worry has been the potential risk to teachers and school staff. When the pandemic started, there was concern that kids in schools could spread the virus among each other and the school staff. Fortunately, we now have plenty of data to show that if the schools follow strict health guidelines such as masking and distancing, this is not the case.
Continued
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, MD, reiterated this at a White House COVID press briefing Wednesday. Based on the data, vaccinating teachers is not a prerequisite for safe reopening of schools, she said. “It is urgent,” Bode says, “for kids to return to physical school.”
Plenty of data and experience now point to the fact that when following strict public health measures, we CAN reopen schools safely. Let’s help our kids get what they desperately need. And in the process help our families and society get to a better place.