Copenhagen, 28 June 2023
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionately negative impact on children and adolescents from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, those who faced prolonged school closures, and those lacking essential support structures such as families and teachers, according to new data published today by WHO/Europe and the Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC) study.
The data also highlights that, on average and across various indicators, older schoolgirls have experienced the pandemic’s effects more than younger boys, with a marked impact on their mental health. This disparity underscores the need for targeted interventions and support systems to mitigate the longer-term
