Children who have experienced social distancing measures were found to be five times more likely to require mental health services. Getty Images
Children who have experienced social distancing measures were found to be five times more likely to require mental health services. Getty Images
Children who have experienced social distancing measures were found to be five times more likely to require mental health services. Getty Images
Children who have experienced social distancing measures were found to be five times more likely to require mental health services. Getty Images

Europe

Coronavirus: children must be at centre of government lockdown response to avert loneliness epidemic

Leading psychologist says young people must be allowed to return to activities such as playing together, even if only outdoors

Jack Dutton

June 26, 2020

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Governments need to address children's needs sufficiently when easing lockdowns to avoid widespread youth loneliness caused by the coronavirus pandemic, leading social psychologists have told The National.

Dr Maria Loades, a clinical psychologist and senior lecturer in Psychology at the University of Bath in the UK, defines "loneliness" as a "discrepancy between our actual social contacts and what we desire them to be". Loneliness is not necessarily the same as social isolation – it is possible to feel lonely even if you are surrounded by people.

In Dr Loades’ review last week, she found children who had experienced social distancing measures were five times more likely to require mental health services.

The review found that the absence of physical activity, social interaction and support, and a lack of structure, routine and purposeful activities caused by social distancing measures had an adverse impact on children’s mental health.

Speaking to The National, Dr Loades said that feelings of chronic loneliness from the pandemic during childhood could continue, even long after restrictions are loosened.

“For many young people, loneliness will reduce as they are able to re-establish social contacts and connections as lockdown eases – for example, as they return to school or college. For some, though, and particularly for those who were more vulnerable to being socially isolated before lockdown ensued, and to those who may not be able to resume social activities due to shielding, for example, loneliness may be prolonged by their struggle to resume social life.”

“Loneliness” has been defined as a “discrepancy between our actual social contacts and what we desire them to be”. Getty Images
“Loneliness” has been defined as a “discrepancy between our actual social contacts and what we desire them to be”. Getty Images

Julianne Holt-Lunstad, professor of psychology and neuroscience at Brigham Young University in Utah, also specialises in loneliness and social connection.

“What we don't know yet is whether social distancing measures have been elevated to the point they are traumatic (or for whether it may be for some children in some circumstances). That can depend largely on how one copes,” she said.

Young people can avoid loneliness during lockdown by taking up new hobbies and building social skills, even if through electronic means. Physical activity, getting good rest and doing things they enjoy is also central to their well-being.

Dr Loades said plans for children must be a central pillar of government’s lockdown-easing strategies.

“It’s central that children and young people are allowed to return to activities such as playing together, even if outdoors, as soon as possible, and that they are able to resume attending school, which gives them a structure for their day and provides them with opportunities to see peers and to get support from adults outside of the nuclear family,” she said.

“There have been several open letters including #playfirst, led by Professor Ellen Townsend, and also a letter from paediatricians in the UK calling on the government to consider children’s needs more in their strategy for easing lockdown. Alongside this, the government could target children’s well-being in public health messaging.”

Specialist mental-health services were already struggling in the UK before the pandemic, Dr Loades said, but there were two main actions the government could take to address it.

“The first of these is to take a universal approach to promoting well-being – by public messaging, and by schools doing activities to promote well-being in children and young people as they resume.

“The second of these is to seek to identify those who are struggling as early as possible, and to do targeted interventions to help them to overcome their struggle as soon as possible. This may be by providing them with extra support in schools, like helping them to overcome anxieties about returning to school, or giving them an extra hand with reconnecting socially with peers.

Militants of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, wearing protective masks against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spread, march during a rehearsal for the Victory Day Parade in Donetsk, Ukraine. REUTERS
Militants of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, wearing protective masks against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spread, march during a rehearsal for the Victory Day Parade in Donetsk, Ukraine. REUTERS
epa08503091 Peet (R) trains his students surrounded by plastic sheets to ensure social distancing at the Inspire South Bay Fitness gym amid the coronavirus pandemic in Redondo Beach, California. EPA
epa08503091 Peet (R) trains his students surrounded by plastic sheets to ensure social distancing at the Inspire South Bay Fitness gym amid the coronavirus pandemic in Redondo Beach, California. EPA
Face masks hang from a rope to dry at a house in Bahia Honda, Artemisa province, Cuba, amid the new coronavirus pandemic. Cuba has controlled the pandemic, but its economic income, which is partially used to buy food, was affected by the lack of tourism. The island now faces a food shortage which it is trying to alleviate by increasing local production. AFP
Face masks hang from a rope to dry at a house in Bahia Honda, Artemisa province, Cuba, amid the new coronavirus pandemic. Cuba has controlled the pandemic, but its economic income, which is partially used to buy food, was affected by the lack of tourism. The island now faces a food shortage which it is trying to alleviate by increasing local production. AFP
A health worker remains at the COVID-19 Hospitalization Operational Unit of the Military Field 1, at the National Defense Secretariat in Mexico City. The facility, originally a dormitory for the 6th Mortar Group, was adapted to serve high, medium and low severity COVID-19 patients. AFP
A health worker remains at the COVID-19 Hospitalization Operational Unit of the Military Field 1, at the National Defense Secretariat in Mexico City. The facility, originally a dormitory for the 6th Mortar Group, was adapted to serve high, medium and low severity COVID-19 patients. AFP
A view shows shared electric scooters parked in front of the Coliseum monument in Rome, as the country eases its lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19. With deconfinement and good weather, self-service shared electric scooters have invaded the streets of Rome in recent days, a novelty in the Eternal City, which in turn is discovering the joys and nuisances of new forms of mobility. AFP
A view shows shared electric scooters parked in front of the Coliseum monument in Rome, as the country eases its lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19. With deconfinement and good weather, self-service shared electric scooters have invaded the streets of Rome in recent days, a novelty in the Eternal City, which in turn is discovering the joys and nuisances of new forms of mobility. AFP
The Uceli Quartet perform for an audience made of plants during a concert created by Spanish artist Eugenio Ampudia and that will be later streamed to mark the reopening of the Liceu Grand Theatre in Barcelona following a national lockdown to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. AFP
The Uceli Quartet perform for an audience made of plants during a concert created by Spanish artist Eugenio Ampudia and that will be later streamed to mark the reopening of the Liceu Grand Theatre in Barcelona following a national lockdown to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. AFP
Barber Renan Estate gives a haircut to a child at home as part of his "Delivery Barber" service, as his shop is closed due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in the Complexo do Alemao slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. REUTERS
Barber Renan Estate gives a haircut to a child at home as part of his "Delivery Barber" service, as his shop is closed due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in the Complexo do Alemao slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. REUTERS
Members of the public pray at St Andrew Cathedral as places of worship reopen for private prayers in Glasgow, Scotland. Places of worship reopened in Scotland today, however only for individual prayer that involves physical distancing. Masses and other large scale services are not permitted yet. Getty Images
Members of the public pray at St Andrew Cathedral as places of worship reopen for private prayers in Glasgow, Scotland. Places of worship reopened in Scotland today, however only for individual prayer that involves physical distancing. Masses and other large scale services are not permitted yet. Getty Images
Quarantined employees of Toennies meat processing company receive food supplies in the district Suerenheide in Verl. According to media reports, over 1300 Toennies employees at the Rheda-Wiedenbrueck plant have tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes the pandemic COVID-19 disease. EPA
Quarantined employees of Toennies meat processing company receive food supplies in the district Suerenheide in Verl. According to media reports, over 1300 Toennies employees at the Rheda-Wiedenbrueck plant have tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes the pandemic COVID-19 disease. EPA
Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio (R) and German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas pose for photographers during a bilateral meeting at villa Madama, a sixteenth-century villa seat of representation by the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Italian Republic, Rome, Italy. EPA
Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio (R) and German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas pose for photographers during a bilateral meeting at villa Madama, a sixteenth-century villa seat of representation by the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Italian Republic, Rome, Italy. EPA

Dr Loades also called on the government to highlight resources such as ThinkNinja, a self-help programme and app based on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) principles that is available free in the UK during lockdown.

In the United States, where Dr Holt-Lunstad works, mental health services are also in need of more investment.

“Mental health services are underfunded relative to medical health services. More resources are needed to adequately meet the needs of the population,” she said.

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1. Cecilie Hatteland (NOR) atop Alex - 31.46 seconds

2. Anna Gorbacheva (RUS) atop Curt 13 - 31.82 seconds

3. Georgia Tame (GBR) atop Cash Up - 32.81 seconds

4. Sheikha Latifa bint Ahmed Al Maktoum (UAE) atop Peanuts de Beaufour - 35.85 seconds

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What should do investors do now?

What does the S&P 500's new all-time high mean for the average investor? 

Should I be euphoric?

No. It's fine to be pleased about hearty returns on your investments. But it's not a good idea to tie your emotions closely to the ups and downs of the stock market. You'll get tired fast. This market moment comes on the heels of last year's nosedive. And it's not the first or last time the stock market will make a dramatic move.

So what happened?

It's more about what happened last year. Many of the concerns that triggered that plunge towards the end of last have largely been quelled. The US and China are slowly moving toward a trade agreement. The Federal Reserve has indicated it likely will not raise rates at all in 2019 after seven recent increases. And those changes, along with some strong earnings reports and broader healthy economic indicators, have fueled some optimism in stock markets.

"The panic in the fourth quarter was based mostly on fears," says Brent Schutte, chief investment strategist for Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company. "The fundamentals have mostly held up, while the fears have gone away and the fears were based mostly on emotion."

Should I buy? Should I sell?

Maybe. It depends on what your long-term investment plan is. The best advice is usually the same no matter the day — determine your financial goals, make a plan to reach them and stick to it.

"I would encourage (investors) not to overreact to highs, just as I would encourage them not to overreact to the lows of December," Mr Schutte says.

All the same, there are some situations in which you should consider taking action. If you think you can't live through another low like last year, the time to get out is now. If the balance of assets in your portfolio is out of whack thanks to the rise of the stock market, make adjustments. And if you need your money in the next five to 10 years, it shouldn't be in stocks anyhow. But for most people, it's also a good time to just leave things be.

Resist the urge to abandon the diversification of your portfolio, Mr Schutte cautions. It may be tempting to shed other investments that aren't performing as well, such as some international stocks, but diversification is designed to help steady your performance over time.

Will the rally last?

No one knows for sure. But David Bailin, chief investment officer at Citi Private Bank, expects the US market could move up 5 per cent to 7 per cent more over the next nine to 12 months, provided the Fed doesn't raise rates and earnings growth exceeds current expectations. We are in a late cycle market, a period when US equities have historically done very well, but volatility also rises, he says.

"This phase can last six months to several years, but it's important clients remain invested and not try to prematurely position for a contraction of the market," Mr Bailin says. "Doing so would risk missing out on important portfolio returns."

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