• Because of schools’ long closure unexpectedly and the uncertainty surrounding the re-opening, many teenage girls and boys with a lot of idle time around them got engaged in sexual activities among themselves and also with adults. Some (girls) are doing this for financial gain from adults with money to offer them in exchange for sex because of poverty while others find it the best pass-time.
• Many youths are losing vision as far as their desired careers are concerned and a big number may end up abandoning studies even when schools resume due to exposure to a life void of studies. Not many got to have online studies and so feel left out as far as syllabus is concerned and remain anxious about how they will proceed when schools re-open.   Exposure to online learning gadgets has in a way also psychologically impacted the youth negatively. This has been occasioned by children getting into unhealthy sites on the internet or being exposed to wrong material within lesson hours where precautions were not taken. This exposure has affected behavior in many children and this requires correction.
• Many children by finding themselves with a lot of time on their hands have become very creative and this creativity needs to be handled well so that it does not cause excitement that can get them out of school into the world to make money but to compliment their studies.

Economic activities in the country have been affected negatively causing many adults to be laid off at their places of work or made to put up with reduced incomes. Working hours have also changed due to the Government’s directives on Covid-19 regulations. This means many people also find themselves with very little to do yet have also very little to spend. All these changes have affected families because of the adjustments to be made and out of these, tension has erupted in homes with devastating results like:

• Family members disappearing from homes.
• Domestic violence for various reasons.
• Rebellion in children.
• Separations

Because of many people getting frustrated and not paying attention to options that could help them in this covid-19 period, many do not seek help but keep to themselves and thus enabling the development of mental disorders to take place. Such include:

• Suicidal tendencies.
• Sinking into depression.
• High levels of anxiety.
• Criminal activities.
• Self harm.

The state of helplessness that many parents find themselves in is causing parenting styles to change. Many parents without intention are becoming :-

• Negligent
• Permissive
• Authoritarian

With these styles of parenting, there is looming danger of children in future turning out to be dysfunctional adults due to poor parenting. Family values are disappearing because of no zeal to enforce them with the many challenges people are facing right now.

People have varied expectations as far as the pandemic is concerned. Some expected the church to give a quick solution to this calamity without realizing that everybody is hard- hit by the pandemic.

Some people are directing their anger to God and blaming Him for not stopping the pandemic at once. Others are questioning the very existence of God. Several new doctrines are emerging causing harm to the word of God and many people are even walking away from the faith because of their interpretations of the pandemic.

With the above and many other happenings not mentioned, Psychosocial support is required for all populations to help alleviate disturbances so that people can continue functioning well because there is hope that things are bound to change. Once people are helped to understand this, there will be high levels of tolerance and patience that can help all of us move forward by reducing anxiety and frustration levels. This is what Counseling is all about.