Traumatized Next Generation Must Now Be Given Priority

A prolonged lockdown due to Covid-19 has made our life confined within our rooms. Conscious people restricted their movement from outside in fear of getting infected from others. At present, Bangladesh becomes the new epicenter for spreading the deadly coronavirus in South Asia. So, people are very much worried and in anxiety about their mundane matters. But what about our innocent children. Do we really aware of providing healthy environment for children in our homes. Because, situation at present in Bangladesh no less than in comparison to Yemen, Syria — where a future generation are growing up with psychological disorders.

All income classes are facing tremendous economic recession, monetary crisis, social insecurity, losing job, rise of daily commodity price which makes very difficult to feed family members. It causes psychological breakdown of family members and effected children with malnutrition. That's why attitude of our adults are becoming testy and impatient. Due to social isolation, we are losing control over our behavior day by day. As a result, we are ignoring to recognize and address our children's mental health. Many times, parents are engaged with a squabble and in that scenario our kids are feeling insecure, maybe our high-pitched altercation, make kids to hide behind the door or even under the bed which is a similar scenario in a war torn country when fighting aircraft drop bombs.

Even, if we are very much conscious about our children then how do we be taking care of them during lockdown. We don't allow them to go outside. We don't allow them to mix with others. They can't play outside which is very essential for them. We are not allowing them to go to school, and they miss their friends, teachers, playgrounds. And in confined life, when our children are feeling monotonous, we provide them tab, mobile, cartoon show, Internet to quell. We all do this in good faith but these restrictions and concessions are making them psychologically imbalance.

Our children behavioral patterns are changed. They become short-tempered. They are not satisfied with anything. They shout and cry with loud voice for very tiny matter. Parents are also lost their patience by now and make the mistake by scolding or exercising corporal punishments. All the classes have lost their patience but suffer only the weaker.

There is a drastic change in our children's schedule. As the school is closed, so their social exposure is strongly hampered. Definitely they are frustrated and struggled with boredom but cannot make understand others. They are missing the story to tell their parents about school, friends, teachers. Akin guests are also not visiting our house which also creates anxiety and mental stress on them where they deprive of love and affections from others.

Now, if we talk about our adolescent children, they are prone to suffering tremendous mental stress during the pandemic. Browsing the internet is the only job which they spend most of the time during lockdown. Their physical exhaustion is heavily hampered. Their mental stress are increasing day by day because of missing -hobnobbing, sharing thoughts with friends. And in no way, face-to-face appearance can be substituted by digital communications. So social isolation and loneliness increased the risk of depression. Another thing, we have lost the tradition of joint family in Bangladesh. So in a single family, adolescent children meet their parents in dining time. Parents are also busy with chores, reading books, watching serials, news, talk shows or business matters. How much quality time do we spend with our adolescent children? The question remains!

Now some recommendations that I put for thought for the government as well as parents. First, government should take a crass program targeting our future generation. A healthy plan for school opening means all on a sudden not to open school in a full scale. Gradually we should increase educational pressure keeping aside our tendency of covering the closure's gaps. TVC of psychological recovery should be featured in media targeting our children. A heavy and strong committee headed by the world-renowned psychologist Saima Wazed Hossain (also advisor to Prime Minister) could be formed who will guide the government to discharge its duties related to our children. Secondly, parents should spend quality time with their children. Small scale of physical exercises like jogging on the rooftop, gardening could be encouraged to the family members together. Thirdly, family members are to be encouraged to perform religious rites and to learn religious knowledge. Parents should create innovative ideas and situations where minors will be engaged to keep them busy and thinking. Misinformation to the children about coronavirus must be avoided by the parents.

WHO and UNICEF should assist Bangladesh to guide and to run the nutrition program in schools. Last but not the list, our devastated economy would turn around and stand one day but our traumatized and mal nutrition prone future generation can never be competent to lead the country when their turn will come.