Published: August 19, 2020
A group of scientists in Belgium and the Netherlands warn that face masks can lead to significant difficulties in the health and development of adolescents: “face masks prevent the mirroring of facial expressions, a process that facilitates empathetic connections and trust between pupils and teachers. This potentially leads to a significant increase in socio-psychological stress.” Further, the researchers claim that this over-stressing of youth and adolescents can lead to increased chance of depression and development of anxiety disorders warranting use of prescription antidepressants. The researchers conclude that “several researchers have shown a relationship between the increase in stress experiences and the risk of upper respiratory tract infections and mortality.”
Published: March 17, 2021
Suicide is a major public health threat and a leading cause of death for those aged under 25 — one far bigger than Covid., which preliminary data suggest Covid accounted for barely 1.2% of all deaths in the under-25 age group.
Published: August 18, 2021
Source: Original Forbes
As an elementary school educator and Ph.D. student at Columbia University trained in trauma-informed instruction, I am concerned that this statement is overly simplistic and misleading. What we should be saying is: “masks and social distancing induce trauma and trauma at a young age is developmentally dangerous, especially for children who are experiencing trauma in other parts of their lives.”
