The Kids Are Alright: Emotional Effects of COVID-19

By Andie Spevetz, MSPC

While the COVID-19 vaccine rollout provides hope for an end to distance learning, some mitigation efforts may continue through the year. As social distancing continued over the past year, students, teachers, and parents have recognized an increased lack of interest from students. The question is, “Why?”

The non-profit Youth Truth Survey¹ conducted a poll that confirms what we already know: many kids are struggling right now. Teens report a lack of interest, feeling that they aren’t learning anything, and a growing sense of anxiety and despondency about both the present and the future. What’s causing these feelings? Could it be more than just boredom and monotony?

To answer these questions, let’s first explore the definition of clinical depression. Someone diagnosed with depression must display at least five of the following symptoms for most of the day, on most days for a minimum of two weeks²:

• Low mood — a feeling of sadness or despondency
• General apathy toward life; loss of interest in things that previously gave pleasure
• Noticeable changes in appetite; weight loss or gain
• Slowed thoughts or movements or restlessness unrelated to activity level
• Persistent tiredness regardless of the amount or quality of sleep; sleeping too much or too little
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, being a failure, or letting people down; irritability
• Inability to think, concentrate, focus, remember, or process information
• Thoughts of suicide or self-harm; planning ways to die with or without intent to act

Depression affects an estimated 10 to 20 percent of the population each year.³ Students’ current feelings do not necessarily indicate a serious mood disorder but rather monotony related to the global pandemic.

Mood Boosters

Here are five ways to improve the mood and interest of students that can be useful to parents and teachers. While educators have little control over what students are doing at home, more than 40 years of parent-teacher associations have shown that collaboration between home and school can help.⁴

1.  Get outside.
Studies have shown that being outside has mood-lifting benefits.⁵ A task or lesson that requires children to be outside can capitalize on the natural benefits and endorphins produced by movement.

2.  Shake it up.
Whether random, planned, or scheduled, activities should be varied to make each day a different experience. Each week should also not be exactly the same as the last week. Spontaneity is important for emotional growth and building time-management skills.

3.  Don’t learn in the bedroom.
Sleep experts recommend that bedrooms should be used only for sleep and not for reading, falling asleep to the television, or playing games. Learning and sleeping in the same place can prevent children from doing well in both activities. Although space considerations may limit implementation of this tip and learning can take place in any environment, at any time, sharing this suggestion can help kids take a fresh look at their lives and choices.

4.  Take frequent breaks.
Get up and encourage students to do the same. Take a walk outside, go to the bathroom, or have a healthy snack to help refresh your mind. Try to avoid highly processed foods that can negatively affect energy levels. Offer extra credit for kids who come back to class with a rock, a leaf, or an earthworm.

5.  Ask questions and then ask more questions.
If possible, while teaching remotely, encourage camera use, call students by name, and ask them to “stay late” to discuss what’s going on. Remember, it only takes one person to make a difference for a child who is struggling. Ask for help from outside the classroom: add phone numbers for local warm lines (non-crisis) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) National Helpline (1-800-662-HELP) on landing pages or teachers’ home pages. Don’t hesitate to talk about how students are doing as a class and let them know they are not alone.

The world has changed, and it may be a while before the remote classroom goes away. The most important thing is to help kids weather current and future disruptions.