Many have bravely withstood the cancellations of sleepaway camp, day camp, activities, sports leagues, amusement parks, concerts, holidays. Isolation can also magnify the effects of mental illnesses and psychological problems among children, such as anxiety, depression, loneliness, despair. “To get child care back up and running, governments must find ways to bring employees back to the sector,” said Don Giesbrecht, chief executive officer for the Canadian Child Care Federation. Thirty per cent of the children who were isolated or quarantined met the clinical criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder. Clinical services should offer preventative support and early intervention where possible and be prepared for an increase in mental health problems.”• Email: jbrean@nationalpost.com | Twitter: josephbrean

Source: National Post June 13, 2020 12:00 UTC