Kid speaks out after year of hardships due to the pandemic

COLUMBIA, MO. (KMIZ)

Health experts say children's mental health issues were on the rise before the pandemic; after, many kids were suffering from issues and not many places to turn for help.

Molly Taylor, who will be in the sixth grade this year, said socially distancing was hard on her and her friends during the pandemic.

"We were so far apart and it didn't feel like we were in the same space... I wasn't able to comfort my friends if they were upset and that was hard... Everyone was very nervous and no one wanted to play games together because we didn't know what to expect, we didn't know what was happening and we didn't know what we know now in the future," Taylor said.

Taylor said when the pandemic started she and her classmates had to sit six feet apart and could not interact at all. Shortly after, she and her classmates had to learn virtually from home.

Taylor said virtual learning made it hard for her to get to know her friends.

"It was probably the hardest part, it was just very, very hard not being able to see basically anyone and not knowing if it was okay to see anyone. Even though we were in the same state it felt like we were so much farther apart than we ever were," Taylor said.

In an article on virtual learning from CNN, a new CDC study says virtual instruction could present serious risks to the mental health of children.

The study found that nearly 25% of parents whose children received virtual instruction or combined instruction reported worsened mental health or emotional health in their children.

Taylor also said mask-wearing made it difficult for her to read her friends' emotions.

"I couldn't tell how they were feeling, or if they were upset or if they wanted to do this or that. I couldn't see them smiling or frowning, and I wasn't able to reassure them because I didn't know how they were feeling," Taylor said.

Alexa Summers, Assistant Director of School Based Services for Burrell Behavioral health says mask wearing can make it difficult for kids to respond appropriately in social situations, however, she said the benefits of mask wearing outweigh the risks.

"It's difficult to be able to effectively read other people and respond appropriately in social situations when we cant see whats going on below the eyes. But kids are really adaptable and being able to go to school and be around their friends even if they are wearing a mask," Summers says.