Lockdowns of businesses, churches, schools started over a year ago and have been in reversal for only a couple of months. Many children have been living without their friends and teachers, more alone with their computer screens than is good for them. The global rise in childhood mental health issues is another unintended consequence of radical lockdowns.
A pediatric hospital in Paris reports a doubling of kids needing care after suicide attempts since last September. Other alarming behavior includes running into traffic, covering themselves with disinfectant gel, scrubbing their hands raw, obsessing about infection, slowly starving, panic attacks.
Pablo was weakened by months of barely eating and drinking when his parents rushed him to that Paris hospital - another "child coming apart amid the tumult of the coronavirus crisis." A year is a very, very long time for young children. They may not have the context or optimism to expect a happy ending any time soon.
An ER doctor in northern England said, "This is an international epidemic and we are not recognizing it." Pablo's father sums it up this way, "It is a real nightmare to have a child who is destroying himself."
from AP News
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