Psychosocial Stressors and Mental Health Concerns

Abstract

Abstract The evidence is now clear that pandemic-era disruption of educational and psychosocial and health care environments negatively impacted mental health for children and adolescents, especially for those with neurologic or psychiatric vulnerabilities and those in at-risk groups. Simultaneously access to mental health treatment has been reduced, initially by closures and later by increased demand, economic factors, and a shortage of mental health providers. Risk factors for adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) also increased during school closures, in part due to reduced access to typical systems for monitoring and reporting concerns. Neurocognitive performance is influenced by psychological factors as well as physical conditions, so the increase in psychiatric diagnoses and exposure to ACE risk factors will be a long-term salient issue for clinicians.