Navigating change: The journey of the child guidance clinic before and after the COVID-19 pandemic

Mental health is crucial for child and adolescent development, but lack of resources often leads to silent suffering and missed opportunities. Establishing child guidance clinics (CGCs) is a step toward holistic care. During COVID, children faced disruptions to schooling, isolation, family stress, and increased digital exposure, leading to a rise in mental health issues. The stressors have left a long-term psychological impact on our lives even after years post-COVID. The study examines the 10-year journey of a CGC that which navigated the changes brought about by COVID-19, highlighting the importance of mental health for child and adolescent development. The CGC's register, which has systematic documentation of patient details, was used to retrospectively analyze patient records for the last 10 years. Data were extracted and organized to identify trends and patterns across diagnoses. Post-COVID-19, cases of autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, global developmental delay, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD), and behavioral disorders have increased. There are fluctuations in cases of Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), phobia, depression, and anxiety. Emotional disorders, though initially had fluctuating numbers, have also increased after the pandemic. However, expressive speech disorders, psychosis, and learning disabilities were found to be stable without many shifts. <b>Conclusion:</b> CGCs in India are vital in addressing the mental health needs of children and adolescents. Post-COVID, the increase in mental health concerns of children and adolescents demands more focused care and a multi-disciplinary team approach.