The current COVID-19 pandemic represents a dangerous increase of risk factors for mental health problems in children and adolescents: re-organization of family life, massive stress, fear of death of relatives, economic crisis with simultaneous loss of almost all support systems and opportunities for evasion in everyday life, limited access to health services as well as a lack of social stabilization and control from peer groups, teachers at school, and sport activities.
Anxiety, lack of peer contact and reduced opportunities for stress regulation are main concerns even though the current crisis can bring with it opportunities for personal growth and family cohesion, disadvantages may outweigh these benefits. Therefore although delivery of deliberate psychosocial interventions for child and adolescent wellbeing may be a challenge during the pandemic, it is necessary for limiting long-term consequences on the mental health and wellbeing of children and adolescents.