“In the Same Storm, but Not on the Same Boat”: Children Grief During the COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-19 has profoundly shaken the world and changed the lives of children and families. around the world are mourning a sense of freedom, normalcy, and routine. However, in the same “storm,” children are not on the same boat as adults. Children may at a higher risk for mental health effects, given their limited capacity to understand their , cope with stressors, and control their environments. In fact, research already that COVID-19-related rates of depression and anxiety are prevalent among children adolescents (1). has shown that victims of the virus will likely leave behind a large number of grieving and grandchildren, with rates of 2.2 children and 4.1 grandchildren bereaved for each who dies (2). There is evidence on the failure of addressing the needs of bereaved children and on an ongoing basis (3), which may result in poor mental and physical health (4). Also, it is estimated that 5 to 10% of children and adolescents who suffer the loss of a loved develop clinically significant psychiatric difficulties (5); this number may be higher given the of loss in the context of COVID-19. Finally, the evidence on childhood trauma and as a risk factor for adult psychopathology (6), highlights the need for early identification intervention. development of specific knowledge about children grief under the COVID-19 circumstance therefore urgent. This opinion paper aimed at highlighting the challenges and needs of children.