KUWAIT CITY, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- Kuwait held on Sunday a seminar to discuss mental health of school students amid the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

The seminar aims to build consensus in mental health needs and interests of children and form a mental health policy for schools.

Abdullah Al-Sanad, spokesman of Kuwait's Ministry of Health, said that the COVID-19 pandemic has left some effects on the psychological state of some people of all age groups, especially children, who were affected by school suspension.

"The pandemic had impacted the supportive social network of friends among children," he said, therefore, the ministry saw the necessity of a safe return to schools.

The health ministry, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, provided health services to school and university students, in addition to forming a dedicated team to provide mental support since August 2020, he added.

For his turn, Tareq Al-Sheikh, UN Secretary General Representative and Resident Coordinator to Kuwait, said that the pandemic caused social and psychological hardship for children and their families.

"We must preserve the mental health of students while giving priority to students who suffer from psychological problems such as depression, loneliness, isolation, and neurodevelopmental disorders, as the pandemic can have devastating effects," he said. Enditem

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