Return to a regular routine in the best interests of kids ONE TENTH
With the omicron variant still circulating in the community, there is no broad consensus around whether a return to in-person learning is the right move and many parents and other groups are decrying this decision. Across the Atlantic provinces, schools are in various stages of this process and, as with all things concerning this virus, decision-makers are trying to strike a balance between safety around transmission and having normal routines.
It isn't an easy decision to make.
I can understand the fears many parents have around their children returning to school at this time. By its very nature, schools involve young people getting together in larger groups – something we have been warned can spread this virus – and many children are not yet fully vaccinated.
There's a pretty fair likelihood that, despite the many precautions put in place, there will be transmission occurring in the classroom and the additional risk that these students will then bring this virus back to their homes and families.
Some families, with vulnerable members living at home, will likely make the decision to not send their children back to school and we need to respect their choices.
Despite the risks, I believe it's the correct decision at this time. While we need to acknowledge the risk omicron poses to vulnerable populations, there is clear evidence it leads to less chance of serious illness and most people, in particular young ones, will have fairly mild symptoms.
Many health experts believe that we are entering a phase now where COVID will become endemic, meaning it will be like the flu and we will have to deal with it on a regular basis yearly. The stark reality is that we have reached a time when we cannot totally prevent the spread and must look at how we can manage and mitigate the impacts of this virus.
At this point, it's critical we devote a larger portion of our energy to the other "pandemic" that has spread hand-in-hand with COVID: the mental health one.
We have all had to learn to deal with the stresses brought about by this pandemic and have had to learn to deal with the anxiety and depression that this can cause.
There are increasing signs that this is wearing us down and our coping skills are being eroded.
We are all tired of the restrictions we have endured over the past two years and our patience is wearing thin. I have noticed increased incidences of people snapping at front-line workers over minor irritants at places like coffee shops and restaurants.
Places that sell alcohol and cannabis products have seen marked increases in their profits over this period, another sign that we are choosing less healthy ways to cope and just want to make what we are feeling go away.
If we are feeling this way, imagine what our children must be going through over the past two years. Their brains are still developing and they have not yet learned the coping skills that adults can call on
We need to return to a regular routine soon so that they can feel a sense of security, socialize with friends, and develop the skills that will allow them to become healthy adults; returning to in-person instruction at school is a vital step in this process.
Prioritizing our children's mental health needs is an excellent starting point to our consideration of how we return to our normal lives as we enter the endemic phase of this virus.
Brian Hodder works in the field of mental health and addictions. He can be reached at bdhodder@hotmail.com.