[Skip to Content]
[Skip to Content Landing]

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and Mental Health for Children and Adolescents

Educational Objective
To understand the affect COVID-19 is having on the mental health of children and adolescents
1 Credit CME

States and localities are taking unprecedented steps to respond to the public health threat posed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Among the measures intended to promote social distancing, many schools have been closed and classes shifted to home-based distance-learning models. The first school closures began in mid-March 2020 and some states have already closed schools for the rest of the academic year. Nearly all of the 55 million students in kindergarten through 12th grade in the US are affected by these closures. School closures substantially disrupt the lives of students and their families and may have consequences for child health. As such, we must consider the potential associations school closures have with children’s well-being and what can be done to mitigate them.

Sign in to take quiz and track your certificates

Buy This Activity

JN Learning™ is the home for CME and MOC from the JAMA Network. Search by specialty or US state and earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ from articles, audio, Clinical Challenges and more. Learn more about CME/MOC

CME Disclosure Statement: Unless noted, all individuals in control of content reported no relevant financial relationships. If applicable, all relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.

Article Information

Corresponding Author: Ezra Golberstein, PhD, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Division of Health Policy and Management, 420 Delaware St, SE, MMC 729, Minneapolis, MN 55455 (egolber@umn.edu).

Published Online: April 14, 2020. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.1456

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported.

References
1.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Data and statistics on children's mental health. Accessed March 27, 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/data.html
2.
Golberstein  E , Gonzales  G , Meara  E .  How do economic downturns affect the mental health of children? evidence from the National Health Interview Survey.   Health Econ. 2019;28(8):955-970. doi:10.1002/hec.3885PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
3.
Burns  BJ , Costello  EJ , Angold  A ,  et al.  Children’s mental health service use across service sectors.   Health Aff (Millwood). 1995;14(3):147-159. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.14.3.147PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
4.
Lipari  RN , Hedden  S , Blau  G , Rubenstein  L .  Adolescent Mental Health Service Use and Reasons For Using Services in Specialty, Educational, and General Medical Settings: the CBHSQ Report: May 5, 2016. Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; 2016.
5.
Ali  MM , West  K , Teich  JL , Lynch  S , Mutter  R , Dubenitz  J .  Utilization of mental health services in educational setting by adolescents in the United States.   J Sch Health. 2019;89(5):393-401. doi:10.1111/josh.12753PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
6.
Bashshur  RL , Shannon  GW , Bashshur  N , Yellowlees  PM .  The empirical evidence for telemedicine interventions in mental disorders.   Telemed J E Health. 2016;22(2):87-113. doi:10.1089/tmj.2015.0206PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
7.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Guidance to states and school systems on addressing mental health and substance use issues in schools. Accessed March 28, 2020. https://www.medicaid.gov/sites/default/files/Federal-Policy-Guidance/Downloads/cib20190701.pdf
AMA CME Accreditation Information

Credit Designation Statement: The American Medical Association designates this Journal-based CME activity activity for a maximum of 1.00  AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to:

  • 1.00 Medical Knowledge MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program;;
  • 1.00 Self-Assessment points in the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery’s (ABOHNS) Continuing Certification program;
  • 1.00 MOC points in the American Board of Pediatrics’ (ABP) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program;
  • 1.00 Lifelong Learning points in the American Board of Pathology’s (ABPath) Continuing Certification program; and
  • 1.00 CME points in the American Board of Surgery’s (ABS) Continuing Certification program

It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting MOC credit.

Close
Want full access to the AMA Ed Hub?
After you sign up for AMA Membership, make sure you sign in or create a Physician account with the AMA in order to access all learning activities on the AMA Ed Hub
Buy this activity
Close
Want full access to the AMA Ed Hub?
After you sign up for AMA Membership, make sure you sign in or create a Physician account with the AMA in order to access all learning activities on the AMA Ed Hub
Buy this activity
Close
With a personal account, you can:
  • Access free activities and track your credits
  • Personalize content alerts
  • Customize your interests
  • Fully personalize your learning experience
Education Center Collection Sign In Modal Right
Close

Name Your Search

Save Search
With a personal account, you can:
  • Access free activities and track your credits
  • Personalize content alerts
  • Customize your interests
  • Fully personalize your learning experience
Close
Close

Lookup An Activity

or

My Saved Searches

You currently have no searches saved.

Close

My Saved Courses

You currently have no courses saved.

Close