HCC and PAHO to explore mental health concerns as schools reopen

THE Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC), in partnership with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), will be hosting a webinar tomorrow, to explore a number of mental health concerns as schools reopen their doors to welcome students.

The webinar is entitled “Re-opening Schools: Shared perspectives on navigating mental health during COVID-19”, and it is designed to explore the mental health concerns of key actors within schools as they reopen across the region, and to discuss strategies to cultivate school ecosystems that support positive mental health and well-being.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has radically transformed schooling as we know it – largely shutting down traditional face-to-face education and forcing children, teachers and parents to struggle with an entirely new world of virtual learning. Significant uncertainty still looms as educational institutions across the Caribbean prepare for the 20/21 academic year,” officials at the HCC have noted.

“We are already beginning to see the negative mental health impacts of the pandemic on students and teachers in the school community. Guidance counsellors designated to provide in-school support may be ill-equipped to handle the anticipated rise in mental health issues experienced by children. Parents and caregivers have been highlighted as key actors in this new school system, serving their role as a parent while also navigating virtual learning/homeschooling and providing holistic support for their children during this time,” the HCC added.

“All of these challenges are further exacerbated for children living with disabilities, who very often require face-to-face, hands-on support from highly trained professionals. The loss of this specialised care is having devastating emotional impacts on the children, families and their teachers.”

The Coalition therefore noted, “This is a new and challenging space for many, and discussions that highlight concerns and guide strategies that will support positive mental health and well-being are critical.” (RSM)