Mental health and wellbeing of children and adolescents during the covid-19 pandemic.

### What you need to know Many children and adolescents remain resilient over time and may recover rapidly after disasters such as a pandemic. However, their experiences and the burden of sustained, multiple stressors (including prior trauma, illness, attachment disruption, grief, isolation, closed borders, and home confinement)12345 may result in a range of challenges to their mental health and wellbeing, both short and long term.5 Given that half of mental health disorders (including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and others) start by age 14, and three quarters by age 24,6 early recognition and treatment of the potential impacts of the covid-19 pandemic will help protect children’s and adolescents’ current and future mental health, development, learning, and wellbeing.78 The covid-19 pandemic, at the time of writing, affects an estimated 2.59 billion 0-19 year olds,9 with school closures in 193 countries that have affected more than 1.59 billion.10 This article—intended for generalists and others—covers common impacts and effects of the pandemic; assessment, including recognition of symptoms suggestive of mental health disorders; and management, including referral and mitigation of the potentially adverse impacts of the covid-19 pandemic. Wellbeing is a person’s ability to recognise their own capacities, manage regular stresses of life, work productively, and contribute to their community.11 The authors …