OP-ED · 3 October
2020
Generation Z - A Grim Future For
South Africa’s Vulnerable Children?
The Covid-19 pandemic has been the center of attention worldwide,
it is now time to unmask the silenced mental health crisis that is
shaping the youth of the next generation.
According to Van der Berg & Spaull, the nation-wide lockdown has had
unintended ramifications that may haunt us for years to come. It has also put a
spotlight on the current social, economic, and health status of South Africa’s
youth who bare the greatest cost in times of crisis. There is a growing concern
amongst parents and teachers with regards to the psychosocial well-being of
children, their ability to cope with the negative impact of the pandemic, and the
lack of adequate public health intervention. The country is faced with the
uncertainty of what the future holds while trying to come to terms with the
unseen enemy that has instilled fear and anxiety around the world.
In an article that aimed to understand children’s experiences of the pandemic
and how best to meet the challenges they faced during the lockdown, it became
evident that out of the 111 children who were interviewed, the majority
expressed feelings of sadness (84%) and stress (79%). This interview was
conducted telephonically and took into account the realities of children from
diverse communities around South Africa. Most of their concerns were centred
around the fear of becoming infected or infecting their family members,
loneliness, the safety of their schools, schoolwork overload, and loss of income as
their caregivers struggled to find work.
1|
2020
Generation Z - A Grim Future For
South Africa’s Vulnerable Children?
The Covid-19 pandemic has been the center of attention worldwide,
it is now time to unmask the silenced mental health crisis that is
shaping the youth of the next generation.
According to Van der Berg & Spaull, the nation-wide lockdown has had
unintended ramifications that may haunt us for years to come. It has also put a
spotlight on the current social, economic, and health status of South Africa’s
youth who bare the greatest cost in times of crisis. There is a growing concern
amongst parents and teachers with regards to the psychosocial well-being of
children, their ability to cope with the negative impact of the pandemic, and the
lack of adequate public health intervention. The country is faced with the
uncertainty of what the future holds while trying to come to terms with the
unseen enemy that has instilled fear and anxiety around the world.
In an article that aimed to understand children’s experiences of the pandemic
and how best to meet the challenges they faced during the lockdown, it became
evident that out of the 111 children who were interviewed, the majority
expressed feelings of sadness (84%) and stress (79%). This interview was
conducted telephonically and took into account the realities of children from
diverse communities around South Africa. Most of their concerns were centred
around the fear of becoming infected or infecting their family members,
loneliness, the safety of their schools, schoolwork overload, and loss of income as
their caregivers struggled to find work.
1|
