Mumbai, Jan 28 (FN Agency) The primary study on mental health and psychosocial well-being amid COVID-19 with 4,200 children highlights the coping strategy used by children to face the distress caused by the pandemic in the last two years, using a global brief-COPE study tool (Coping Experience to Problem Experienced). With a spotlight on mental health and psychosocial well-being of children amid COVID-19, Bal Raksha Bharat (globally known as Save the Children) launched the first edition of its flagship report, TRAC 2022 – The Rights & Agency of Children, a release issued stated here on Saturday. The report was launched by Rakesh Ranjan, Mission director, Aspirational District Programme, NITI Aayog, in the presence of other experts and dignitaries like Deepak Kapoor, chairperson, Bal Raksha Bharat here.
This year’s TRAC report is focused on ‘Mental Health and Psychosocial Wellbeing of Children’ amidst COVID-19 and has been made in consultation with NIMHANS and other organisations. It aims to contribute to policy and programme making at national, state and local levels towards strengthening mental health systems across all relevant departments. The findings of the study have been drawn out of a consultation with 4,200 children across five states of India (Assam, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh), and secondary literature review across different countries. The study corresponds to 14 different coping strategies (which are further classified under three categories – problem focused, emotion-focused, and avoidant coping) and assesses coping patterns amongst children during the pandemic.
The key trends highlighted by the secondary literature review across different states highlights: onset of new mental health concerns and worsening of pre-existing mental health conditions among children, disproportionate effect of COVID-19 on children from disadvantaged groups, excessive burden on healthcare infrastructure resulted in neglect of psychiatric needs, among others. Unveiling the maiden edition of this report on assessing child rights through the period, Ranjan said, “The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development represents the highest aspirations for a bright future for the world’s children and serves as the blueprint for creating the world that children need and are demanding… I complement Save the Children for bringing out the TRAC report which not only highlights the issues that concern children in India, through their own voices but also mentions the efforts by the central & state governments to improve the future of children in India.”