A Review of Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Mental Health and Well-Being of Children and Adolescents

The purpose of this literature review is to evaluate current research and literature discussing the impacts of COVID-19 on the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents. This review seeks to identify both the positive and negative impacts that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents. Using an ecological systems theory framework, this literature review examines current literature addressing the mental health and well-being of youth throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Four themes emerged from reviewing the literature discussing negative outcomes which include child maltreatment, nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), suicide, and depression and anxiety. One additional theme addressed the positive outcomes. The findings from this review highlight the importance of taking action to address the potential mental health crisis that children and adolescents may face as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and its residual effects. Additionally, important implications for intervention and prevention strategies as well as suggestions for future research related to children growing up in the COVID-19 pandemic are discussed and identified. Providing appropriate support for children and adolescents in the face of lingering secondary effects of the COVID-19 pandemic will become extremely important and relevant as societies begin to shift back towards pre-COVID-19 routines. It is hoped that this review adds to the discussion around the next steps needed to address the direct and secondary impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.Bachelor of Arts in Educatio