COVID-19 has been tough on us all.

But if the pandemic has impacted the lives of the workforce, it has disrupted the life of every child in the country. Indeed YoungMinds, a mental health charity for children, young people and their parents, has reported that it has had a devastating impact on young people – many are deeply anxious, have started self-harming, are having panic attacks, or are losing motivation and hope for the future. 

During some of the most important years of children’s lives, loneliness and isolation have affected social development and a breakdown in routine at school has caused further issues. A survey conducted by YoungMinds, has revealed that two-thirds (67%) of young people aged 13-25 believe that the pandemic will have a long-term negative effect on their mental health. Concerns over parents’ financial issues, the constant barrage of bad news on TV, spending less time outside being active, the difficulties of home-schooling, and worries about the loss of education and how this might affect their futures were just some of the problems that children and young people have faced in the last 18 months. 

The Mix, another charity that provides free mental health support to young people under 25, has also noted a rise in the severity of mental health cases, with 16% of those contacting its helpline between April and June 2021 mentioning thoughts of suicide, compared to 13.2% the previous year. The charity has seen a rise in young people discussing a range of issues, including school and education, exam stress, anger, and body image. 

Yet from a young age, children are barely educated about the multiple pressures they face, pressures which have been further compounded by the traumatic experiences of the pandemic. One organisation that is trying to rectify this is iSpace Wellbeing, whose Founder, Paula Talman, features on the latest episode of our Mental Fitness Podcast, ‘Life Happens’. Paula’s mission is to ‘improve and protect the mental and emotional wellbeing of over 50,000,000 children by 2030’ and she is doing this with curriculums for schools that offer an exciting approach to mental health and wellbeing, in a language that children can understand so that conversations about mental health can become part of everyday school and home life.

Children’s mental health has become a more regular topic of conversation in recent years as it has worsened, and sadly it is now at crisis point as a result of COVID-19. Indeed, the Royal College of Psychiatrists has reported a 28% rise in the number of children referred to children’s mental health services. A stark statistic is that 1 in 20 (5%) children considered suicide in the last 12 months - more than one in every classroom - and the same number self-harmed.

To address these issues and help young people confront the difficulties they face iSpace Wellbeing has established a Children’s Advisory Board – a working group of 8-13 year olds from both independent and state schools – to discuss the issues brought to the fore by the pandemic. We’ve taken some points from iSpace Wellbeing’s white paper issued off the back of this research that asked children to share their ideas as to what changes would have the biggest impact in protecting their mental health.

The Role of Technology

Technology has played an augmented role in children’s lives over the last 12 months as they have used channels like Zoom to keep up-to-date on their school work and increasingly used the internet, social media, and video games to keep themselves occupied and entertained. Two thirds (67%) of children spent more time playing video games and six out of ten children (62%) spent more time watching TV. Over half (56%) spent more time during the pandemic using their phone and this can give rise to further issues like cyber-bullying, which is becoming more prevalent. 

These platforms have undoubtedly been beneficial - supporting learning and allowing children to interact - but children are themselves concerned that too much time spent using technology, and less time outdoors exercising as a result, had negatively impacted their mental health. Children are also worried that they are exposed to too much bad news on TV.

So what can we do?

1. Limit the amount of time children spend watching television, especially programmes which portray bad and worry-inducing news. Encourage children to follow the news agenda but make sure they are exposed to coverage that is beneficial to them and in line with their interests, so they can come away feeling positive.

2. Encourage children to talk by sitting down for dinner rather than allowing kids to eat in front of the television. Debrief on the day and you should be able to get a sense if anything is troubling them.

3. Ensure children take a break from playing video games every 30 minutes or so. While playing video games can actually be good for mental health, there are health risks that come from too much gaming and it is all too easy for children to forget about time when they are immersed in a game.

Equipping children and young people with the tools to thrive

The tools are out there; the support exists. But many children and young people suffering from mental health issues feel alone and don't know who or where to turn to for help and advice. Parents and teachers can play a role in addressing this by ensuring they are equipped with the right advice to give to young people. Being a friendly face to talk to can be invaluable but knowledge of the resources available is vital and adults must take the time to educate themselves.

Support for families

Kids aren’t stupid! There is a strong awareness amongst children that parents and carers need help too. Indeed, one in five children (22%) have felt like their parents are too busy for them over the last year and 28% have heard their parents discussing money worries. So, make sure you’re keeping on top of your mental fitness by checking in with the 87% app on a regular basis.

To talk to your child about their feelings Paula also recommends “creating the right environment for a conversation with a younger child, using puppets, Lego, or a book as a tool for a relaxed environment to get them to open up. With teenagers it helps to be active whilst you talk, so whilst out walking the dog or on a car journey. Start by letting them know you have noticed they don’t seem happy at the moment and make sure you do this in a caring non-judgmental way. Listen and validate their thoughts, see if they can explain why they are feeling this way and if they can suggest solutions. They may not want to talk, but let them know you are there for them when they’re ready, or encourage them to talk to someone else they trust. Signpost them to helpful resources such as YoungMinds where they can have access to services and helplines.”

For more insights from Paula, and to listen to her experiences as a paediatric nurse, seeing how mental health can benefit young patients, check out her interview on ‘Life Happens’ now.