MENTAL HEALTH PREPAREDNESS FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

COVID-19-related school closures have affected over 1.5 billion children around the world. It is highly signicant to provide an insight into the mental health challenges faced by children during the pandemic. Signicance of school children mental health in relation to pandemic included limited coping strategies , stress and anxiety . Emotional supports for parents and children included normalizing their emotional response , focusing on self-compassion, emotional awareness, and coping strategies, helping parents understand their child's emotional signals .Tips for children and parents comprises of words and practices to help children cope with their feelings , being calm , listen to children ,provide ageappropriate information about COVID-19 to keep themselves healthy and safe, be honest , reassuring , acknowledging distress and answering all their questions , implement routines , create a basic loose structure for day and week , setting a goal, provide exercise, fun and recreation. Interventions for promoting child mental health in younger children were spending more quality time with child , listening to music , singing , dancing ,setting up a routine , encourage hand hygiene, video chat , reading story , free play, art activities . In older children, mental health promotion interventions included setting time for regular activities , encourage social interactions , spend in outdoor activities , exercise , video chat , positive use of social media . World Health Organization recommendations included behavioural aspects , community level, safety and security measures, hygiene and daily practices , screening and care of sick students, teachers and other school staff , protection of individuals at high-risk, communication with parents and students, immunization checks and vaccination programmes, remote learning ,physical distancing outside and inside classroom. Supporting child's mental health during COVID 19 school return is signicant. Students need to be supported and encouraged to reconnect, heal and develop their own social and emotional capacities.