Pandemic’s impact on children not to be overlooked

The COVID-19 shutdowns of April and May have had a severe impact on the psychological wellbeing of Barbados and on many of the country’s children, according to Chief Executive Officer of Supreme Counselling for Personal Development Shawn Clarke.

During a press conference on Wednesday, Clarke explained that the challenges of being isolated from society over the ten-week period have been doubly difficult for a number of children who are usually subjected to domestic abuse in the home.

And as a result, the counselling agency has been receiving numerous calls from concerned adults and young people struggling with the realities of this year.

In this regard, Clarke has urged authorities to look more closely at the factors pushing children to run away from home instead of enforcing punitive measures for wandering.

“The average 16-year-old would have ordinarily had freedom to go outside and play with his friends and to go to school and hug them and knock their buddies. Then one day all of a sudden out of the blue you’re telling me that I cannot do this anymore and that I have to stay at home and be isolated. That in itself can have serious psychological scars on young people,” Clarke explained.

He however indicated that for victims of abuse, the closure of school since late March took away their only temporary “safe haven”.

“What about those young people who are now shut in for months with no escape? We have to pay serious attention to the psychological impact that COVID-19 would have had on them,” he added.

Clinical Psychologist at Supreme Counselling Tanya Newton added that even the opportunity to go outside to play football or visit a friend’s house provided temporary refuge.

“But with the restrictions, they were forced into situations that they may not have been used to and they may not be able to have the types of interactions with friends that they are used to, or to seek safe haven somewhere else,” Newton explained.

“Even if you leave home and get caught, you are running the risk of putting yourself in more trouble. That would have had a real negative impact on the minds of young people being pent up, stuck and feeling isolated inside the house,” she added.

With this in mind, the officials stressed that not every child listed as missing, or found wandering should be treated like a criminal.

The Supreme Counselling CEO therefore urged the Mia Mottley-administration not to neglect a plan to house such youth in a location separate from the country’s juvenile detention facility.

“That is a good idea and it is needed, because if I am wandering, there must be a reason,” the counselling specialist insisted.

“I remember speaking to an individual who was sent to the Government Industrial School for wandering and when I asked why, the student said that their parent is involved in the drug trade and at night when he is plying his trade there is a lot of cursing, fighting and quarrelling and he could not deal with it. ‘So i just walk off to breeze and cool my head,’”Clarke recalled the youngster saying.

“…and that person was incarcerated for wandering. So in situations like that, I agree with the idea of an alternative facility. That is a venture that Supreme Counselling endorses,” he added. (kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb)