Establishing the medium to long-term impact of Covid-19 constraints on the socio-emotional wellbeing of impoverished children and young people (and those who are otherwise disadvantaged) during, and in the aftermath of, Covid-19

Globally, Covid-19 has created an unprecedented set of circumstances with repercussions felt across the world, impacting not only on the education of children and young people (CYP) but also their mental health and wellbeing. This literature-based chapter draws from an extensive range of international sources, drawn from both the social and medical sciences, to cast light on how the pandemic has impacted on the lives of CYP with a particular focus on those who are the most disadvantaged. The purpose is to determine key imperatives for policy and practice and future directions for research. The pandemic has served to highlight and exacerbate existing inequalities in health and education at a global and national level between countries and within countries. It was and is experienced differentially by children and families with those living in the most disadvantaged circumstances bearing the brunt of privations, placing some families in a state of precarity and children at greater risk of abuse and neglect. At the macro-level, there needs to be a convergence of public policy globally and nationally and a will to address inequalities in society. Future research needs to focus on the creation of resilient communities, through examination of the risk and protective factors at the micro-to the macro-level, placing children’s rights at the centre, breaking down the silos between disciplines and professions and giving due consideration to intersectionality and cultural and contextual factors. Building strong networks of support around schools, families and communities is a key aspect of achieving this end.