The New York Times (12/8, Barry) reports, “A study of nearly 200,000 California schoolchildren found that their mental health had improved significantly after schools reopened for in-person learning in 2021, evidence that its authors said shows that the risks of prolonged shutdowns were greater than policymakers understood at the time.” Researchers found that “nine months after schools reopened, the probability that a child would be seen by a [healthcare professional] for a mental health condition was reduced by 43 percent.” Additionally, “spending on mental health medications decreased by 7.5 percent, and spending on other treatments, like therapy, decreased by 10.6 percent.” The improvements were said to be more striking among girls. The study was published in Epidemiology
The Washington Post (12/8, Malhi) adds that return to in-person schooling during the pandemic was “associated with significant declines in diagnoses of anxiety, depression and other conditions.”
The American Journal of Managed Care (12/8, Shaw) also provides coverage.
Related Links:
— The New York Times (requires login and subscription)