A helping hand...

“There is a pressing need to reduce the toll of the Covid-19 pandemic on mental health. Children and teenagers are vulnerable. This is a tough time for many young people. Signs of trouble may only start to show later but for the most part, these are natural reactions to an unexpected situation. Children with pre-existing health conditions, those living in low-income households or those facing domestic abuse or child maltreatment, and those infected with the virus are more likely to develop mental health problems. Their age, physical or mental health status, stress management techniques, past experiences, or a mental or physical health condition determine how they react to the challenges.” – Medical lecturer and consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr Rahima Dahlan@Mohd Shafie

“Many of my secondary students, especially those whose families have been hard-hit financially, expressed losing their concentration, being easily distracted, and not being able to motivate themselves to focus or study. Physically, mentally, and emotionally, they tend to switch off and some have even taken ‘off days’ from social media during the lockdown, even skipping my online lessons. As a result, they are unable to keep up with lessons or improve as much as they had hoped to. Teenagers face a rollercoaster of emotions, and at this particular juncture in their lives, they need space to breathe. The least parents can do is to listen and understand what their children are going through.” – Tuition teacher Caleb Ho