Salud mental infanto-juvenil y pandemia de Covid-19 en España: cuestiones y retos

Introduction: The expansion of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to public health measures such as educational institutions closure and home confinement of the population.Methods: Bibliographic review in scientific literature of psychological effects in children and adolescents of the pandemic and confinement, the impact on children development, associated risk factors and possible preventative strategies.Results: Infectious pandemics are associated to an increase of anxious, depressive and post traumatic symptomatology in children and adolescents. Confinement has a negative impact on their mental and physical health. Children development could be affected by school closure, limitations on relationships with peers, a pause on outdoor physical activities and loss of healthy life habits. COVID-19 pandemic is associated to an increase of psychosocial risk factors such as isolation, domestic violence, poverty, overcrowding and overuse of technologies. Preventive measures are being proposed within families, like positive communication, promotion of healthy habits and parenting. It is essential to reinforce accessibility to the mental health network. Strategies for the protection of children and adolescent population should be designed in the context of the actual health crisis.Conclusion: To preserve children’s rights, their mental health and development, without putting community health at risk, is a challenge that competent authorities have to face.