Equitable Access to Supporting Services for Youth to Minimise the Impact of Covid-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the mental health, education, and daily routine of students. It has brought about profound changes to social behaviour with dramatic shifts in sleep, substance use, physical activity and diet, resulting in subsequent downstream mental health consequences, following lock down and quarantine measures, social isolation and school closure. Studies have also found increasing prevalence of obesity and myopia among school children due to longer screen times, lack of physical activity, and living in small, crowded living and learning spaces. Many health issues have emerged among children and adolescents as result of the COVID 19 pandemic. During the post COVID 19 era, both direct and indirect effects on their mental health and well-being appear to be the focus areas for service providers.