How are teens and children dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic?
Instead of being able to go outside and play or hang out with friends at malls and parks, kids are finding themselves shifting to virtual playdates, school and group hangouts.
Earlier this week, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti focused on how COVID-19 was affecting the younger population in his daily briefing.
"I want them to know not only are we focused on the city at-large but on them," he said.
"The psychological burden of this pandemic is weighing on all of us," he said adding everyone should focus on their mental health.
Cassie, 12, and Jessie Wolfson, 10, were on KNX In-Depth show Thursday to talk about how they're coping with COVID-19 living apart from the other parent and sibling. Jessie and his dad are on the West Coast while his sister and mom are on the East Coast because the parents were cut off by the shelter in place order in mid-March.
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Earlier this week, Garcetti also invited Michelle Cauley, a licensed clinical social worker, to talk about mental health and how to cope during this time for both adults and children.
She said depression and anxiety look different for everyone including a range that can be a loss of appetite, sleep patterns, insomnia and more.
She said when children seem irritable this can be a symptom of anxiety.
Cauley said "with those symptoms of depression and anxiety let's look at some of the to-dos."
Cauley said the first thing is for both adults and children:
-acknowledgment or giving ourselves space to talk about something.
-communication or being able to articulate the feelings.
- creating a list.
She said to reach out to a mental health professional if you need to via telehealth and either phone or video is helpful. She also mentioned support groups including family and neighbors.
Cauley also said exercise, journaling, praying, mindfulness and managing money help.
"Gratitude," she said. "Maybe finding three things you are grateful for daily can help with optimism and hope."