Health of children and young adults during the COVID-19 crisis

Wednesday 22 January 2025, 10h-11h CET

About the webinar

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the mental and physical health and family dynamics of children and young adults in Belgium. Scientific research shows that they have faced unique challenges ranging from interrupted education and socialization to increased stress and anxiety.

HELICON brings together four leading researchers to discuss the challenges facing children and young adults during the pandemic. Recognizing and addressing these challenges is essential to developing targeted and effective responses to protect the youngest.

Join us as our experts explore the complexities of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health of children and young adolescents, and share their insights on formulating effective health strategies. This webinar serves as a platform to equip participants with the knowledge needed to foster a more targeted response to the current challenges posed by COVID-19.

The webinar is free but registration is required (see below).

Programme

10h00	Welcome & Introduction — Prof Dr Brecht Devleesschauwer, Sciensano & Ghent University
10h05	The gendered impact of social support on children's well-being before and during the COVID-19 pandemic — Jasper Dhoore, Howest, VUB
10h20	Child, adolescent, and parent mental health in general population during a year of COVID-19 pandemic — Dr. Simone Marchini, ULB
10h35	Effects of COVID-19 lockdowns on domestic violence in households with children — Elizaveta Fomenko, UGent, ICRH-VIORESC
10h50	Closing remarks — Caroline Vrijens, Flemish Commissioner for Children's Rights

Speakers

Jasper Dhoore

Jasper Dhoore is master in Sociology. He is a voluntary researcher at the Department of Sociology at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and a full-time researcher at Howest, where he leads the Howest Impact Lab. From 2021 till 2023 Jasper worked as a full-time researcher affiliated to the Youth Research Platform (JOP) at the Department of Sociology of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, where he, inter alia, studied the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the well-being of children in Flanders.

Simone Marchini

Dr. Simone Marchini is Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at the Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles (Erasme site). He is currently pursuing a PhD at the Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles. His primary focus is on youth mental health, particularly in the prevention and early intervention of emerging psychiatric disorder in adolescents and young adults. From 2019 to 2023, Dr. Marchini served as a clinical researcher under the University Chair “Psychiatry in Transition in a World in Transition” 2019-2023, supported by the Julie Renson fund, the Queen Fabiola fund and the King Baudouin Foundation. He is currently involved in multiple project, including the HORIZON EARLY project in collaboration with public health and general medicine departments across the European region. Additionally, he is spearheading the development of Zelig, an early detection and intervention centre for adolescents and youth, based at the Erasme hospital within the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry service.

Elizaveta Fomenko

Elizaveta Fomenko holds a master's degree in health promotion and an advanced master's degree in statistical data analysis. She works as a researcher at the International Center of Reproductive Health (ICRH) at Ghent University, where she focuses on topics such as (intrafamilial) violence, (sexual) transgressive behavior and sexual and reproductive health and rights. Her work emphasizes the impact of these themes on mental health and focuses on a trauma-sensitive and holistic approach. She is currently collaborating on Operation Alert, a support program that provides hospital staff - both caregivers and support staff - with the tools to recognize signs of violence faster, provide victim-centered care and refer to specialized care as needed. The program is committed to strengthening basic competencies to make a positive impact within the healthcare sector.

Caroline Vrijens

Caroline Vrijens (1975) holds a law degree with a specialisation in International and European Law. She also obtained a postgraduate degree in Social Profit and Public Management. Caroline worked the last three years for an international NGO as an advocacy expert for the target group children in youth care. There she published the report 'Ordinary children in an unusual situation' (SOS Children's Villages, March 2017). She pulled the Leaving Care campaign and developed an innovative project to further deinstitutionalise youth care in Flanders. From 2007 to 2014, she worked as a policy officer within the Flemish government on the implementation of the Integral Youth Aid and worked on participation of children and young people and children's rights. Caroline Vrijens has been the Flemish Commissioner for Children's Rights since 1 August 2019. The Children's Rights Commissioner's Office detects signals from children, young people and professionals. It mediates, investigates complaints and advises the policy (www.kinderrechten.be).