[Perspectives] Wisdom and tenderness

AI Summary

The article reflects on the mental health effects of COVID-19, noting that children, adolescents, and young adults experienced substantial harm despite lower rates of severe disease. Pandemic restrictions also brought increased attention to loneliness, a concern that existed before the pandemic.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the widespread mental health toll of the pandemic was quickly appreciated by communities, educators, and health-care providers. Children, adolescents, and young adults generally fared the worst, despite having lower rates of severe COVID-19 morbidity, hospitalisations, and death than older adults. And an additional widespread concern was uncovered that had predated the pandemic, but which pandemic restrictions brought forward in stark relief, that of loneliness.