The impacts of Covid-19 could be “catastrophic” for the wellbeing of “generation lockdown” without urgent early intervention, a leading children’s charity has said.
A Barnardo’s survey of 4,000 children and young people aged eight to 24 in Britain found more than a third are experiencing increased mental health difficulties during the coronavirus lockdown, such as loneliness, worry, sadness and stress. A third also said they had more trouble sleeping, which could have a knock-on effect on school work, behaviour and family life.
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More than two thirds (68 per cent) of respondents said not seeing their friends had been one of the three most difficult things about lockdown. And more than half said they were experiencing boredom (51 per cent) with a quarter (26 per cent) feeling trapped.
Barnardo’s chief executive Javed Khan said: “The Covid-19 pandemic is a traumatic event that has led to increased anxiety and stress for everyone, but especially children and young people who have had their lives turned upside down by the crisis. Our polling results show that more than one in three children are already experiencing mental health problems.
“Once you add other vulnerabilities into the mix with lockdown and social isolation, the impact could be catastrophic for a whole generation.
“Domestic abuse has skyrocketed and poverty is increasing – meaning children are facing traumatic events that could have a lifelong impact. Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) children are more likely to have lost family members to the crisis and to be struggling with anxiety.”
Frontline staff
Barnardo’s also surveyed more than a thousand of its frontline staff in April, with more than a third saying they do not have what they need to support vulnerable service users with mental health difficulties. The charity is calling for the Government to invest in a programme to address children and young people’s mental health over the summer holidays and into term time to mitigate the impact of school closures.
According to NHS Digital, one in eight five-to-19-year-olds already had a diagnosable mental health condition before the coronavirus pandemic. It comes as more than 146 organisations, including Barnardo’s, have called on the Prime Minister to prioritise children as much as health and economy in the nation’s coronavirus recovery plans.
A Government spokesman said: “We recognise the importance of children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing during the unprecedented coronavirus outbreak. That is why we have published guidance to schools and families about how to help support their children’s mental wellbeing and education at home.
“Mental health support continues to be available for those that need it. NHS services remain open and we are providing £9.2m of funding to national and local mental health charities to support adults and children affected by the pandemic.”
Existing problems worsening
A separate survey by Mind found that two out of three adults aged 25 and over and three-quarters of young people aged 13-24 with an existing mental health problem reported worse mental health during the lockdown. Of adults with no previous experience of poor mental health, more than a fifth now say that their mental health is poor or very poor.
The charity said the “worst is yet to come” of the mental health emergency sparked by the coronavirus pandemic and the future economic fall-out. Those who were furloughed, changed jobs or lost their job due to coronavirus saw their mental health and wellbeing decline more than those whose employment status did not change, Mind found.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokeswoman said: “We recognise the impact that this unprecedented global pandemic can have on people’s mental health. NHS mental health services have remained open, delivering support online and over the phone, and we published guidance at the beginning of lockdown to provide advice on steps individuals can take to support their wellbeing and manage mental health.
“We have also awarded £4.2m to mental health and wellbeing charities like Samaritans, Young Minds and Bipolar UK. This is in addition to £5m already made available to charities through the coronavirus mental health response fund.”
