The Covid-19 Coronavirus has had a significant impact on the mental health of most people and, in particular, children and young people. Isolation and loss of social connections are two of the main factors affecting young people’s mental health, as reported in a recent survey by the mental health charity, YoungMinds.
Of the 2,111 young people surveyed, all of whom had a history of mental health needs, 83% of respondents agreed that the pandemic had made their mental health worse, with 66% agreeing that watching or reading the news exacerbated their mental health issues. Respondents also voiced concerns about their family’s health, anxiety over school and university closures and loss of routines and coping mechanisms as other contributory factors.
On a positive note, 74% were still receiving the professional mental health support and counselling they had received before the start of the pandemic and cited face-to-face calls with friends, watching TV/films, exercise and learning new skills as other ways of improving their mental health.
Undoubtedly, technology has played a major role in young people accessing mental health support, both professionally and personally but major challenges were reported, such as access to technology, anxiety about talking on the phone or via video calls and concerns over privacy.
Mental health and other support professionals were praised by Emma Thomas, Chief Executive of YoungMinds, for their commitment to providing continued support “in an unprecedented and totally unexpected situation” but highlighted the additional need for support for those whose mental health issues, such as panic attacks and anxiety, have been created by Covid-19 and the restrictions it has imposed on their lives.
As a way of addressing this problem, YoungMinds is calling on the Government to ensure that mental health support providers have the funding and resources they need to continue delivering counselling and other psychological treatment by using digital, virtual and telephone therapies. This safeguards support for those who are hardest to reach and establishes a clear public message aimed at children, young people and families about managing and improving their mental health.
YoungMinds stressed its commitment to supporting young people and parents with the mental health issues caused or exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic and information and advice can be found through its digital channels and dedicated Parents’ Helpline.
The full report is available here https://youngminds.org.uk/media/3708/coronavirus-report_march2020.pdf
Of the 2,111 young people surveyed, all of whom had a history of mental health needs, 83% of respondents agreed that the pandemic had made their mental health worse, with 66% agreeing that watching or reading the news exacerbated their mental health issues. Respondents also voiced concerns about their family’s health, anxiety over school and university closures and loss of routines and coping mechanisms as other contributory factors.
On a positive note, 74% were still receiving the professional mental health support and counselling they had received before the start of the pandemic and cited face-to-face calls with friends, watching TV/films, exercise and learning new skills as other ways of improving their mental health.
Undoubtedly, technology has played a major role in young people accessing mental health support, both professionally and personally but major challenges were reported, such as access to technology, anxiety about talking on the phone or via video calls and concerns over privacy.
Mental health and other support professionals were praised by Emma Thomas, Chief Executive of YoungMinds, for their commitment to providing continued support “in an unprecedented and totally unexpected situation” but highlighted the additional need for support for those whose mental health issues, such as panic attacks and anxiety, have been created by Covid-19 and the restrictions it has imposed on their lives.
As a way of addressing this problem, YoungMinds is calling on the Government to ensure that mental health support providers have the funding and resources they need to continue delivering counselling and other psychological treatment by using digital, virtual and telephone therapies. This safeguards support for those who are hardest to reach and establishes a clear public message aimed at children, young people and families about managing and improving their mental health.
YoungMinds stressed its commitment to supporting young people and parents with the mental health issues caused or exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic and information and advice can be found through its digital channels and dedicated Parents’ Helpline.
The full report is available here https://youngminds.org.uk/media/3708/coronavirus-report_march2020.pdf
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