Parental stress, isolation could have long-lasting impacts on preschoolers: Mental health experts, paediatricians

Ottawa – Due to the pandemic, parents have experienced heightened stress caused by social isolation and additional caregiving responsibilities.  This has led to negative consequences for young children’s social-emotional development.

Today, the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) and the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) are releasing new recommendations to help policy makers support the mental health of children and families.

Mounting stress on parents over financial worries, job losses, strained relationships put under even more pressure, juggling working from home with caregiving responsibilities, on top of the isolation, has left parents feeling overwhelmed as never before. Some communities are under more pressure than others. One government study showed that Indigenous families have been disproportionately impacted by social isolation.

Social support helps us bounce back from stress and adversity. There are measures that we can take right now to increase a sense of connectedness for parents and minimize negative impacts for their children:

• Increase supports for parents reporting high levels of social isolation and substance use
• Increase supports for parents of physically and developmentally disabled children
• Widen access to social and community health programs for parents of children under 6 years old
• Improve access to greenspaces, parks and recreational spaces to reduce  screen time
• Commit to long term funding of services as impacts over years is as yet unknown
• Ensure parents needs are heard and that they are part of solutions

Due to COVID-19, many of the resources that made parents feel connected and supported – such as in-person contacts with family and friends, home visiting programs, libraries and recreation centres – those things we might describe as a “village” – have been disrupted, restricted or moved online, leaving parents physically and emotionally isolated.

Virtual connection just isn’t enough to support parents – especially those with very young children. Many families are experiencing financial strain, job losses and an additional caregiving burden. Without appropriate interventions these can lead to adverse childhood experiences.

Alleviating parental stress through implementing some of the measures above can support more loving and consistent parenting.  By committing to long-term funding for prenatal and early childhood mental health services—as well as affordable, quality childcare—we can bend the cost curve across the lifespan, mitigating the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The issue brief can be accessed here.

The issue brief was adapted from: COVID-19 and Early Childhood Mental Health: Fostering Systems Change and Resilience, prepared by the Mental Health Commission of Canada and the Canadian Paediatric Society, 2021. Available at www.mhcc.ca

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About the Canadian Paediatric Society

The Canadian Paediatric Society is a national advocacy association that promotes the health needs of children and youth. Founded in 1922, the CPS represents more than 3,300 paediatricians, paediatric subspecialists and other child health professionals across Canada.

About the Mental Health Commission of Canada

The Mental Health Commission of Canada (CMHC) leads the development and dissemination of innovative programs and tools to support the mental health and wellness of Canadians. Through its unique mandate from the Government of Canada, the MHCC supports federal, provincial, and territorial governments as well as organizations in the implementation of sound public policy.