COVID-19 and young people's mental wellbeing

It is widely recognised that the COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing on a global scale. UNICEF estimates that worldwide, at least 1 in 7 children has been directly affected by lockdowns, while more than 1.6 billion children have suffered some loss of education.(7)

School closures, while an important way to limit the spread of COVID-19, are likely to have resulted in increased social isolation for young people and the sustained disruption to routines, education, recreation. Additionally, concern for family income and health will have left many young people feeling afraid, angry, and concerned for their future. In the UK, the Department for Education found that evidence indicated lower wellbeing amongst young people and children in December 2020 and February 2021, when schools were closed to most pupils. Furthermore, data suggests that 10.6% of 6 to 16 year olds missed more than 15 days of school during the 2020 Autumn term.(8)

Children with probable mental health issues were twice as likely to have missed this much school (18.2%) as those unlikely to have a mental health issue (8.8%).(9)

Whilst impacting on the lives of every child in the country, the pandemic is likely to have had a particularly harmful impact on the estimated four million children and young people already living in poverty in the UK.(10)

As part of its response to COVID-19, Gloucestershire County Council has a dedicated information and advice section on its website for children and young people, linking them to both in-county and national mental health support services and resources. Find support for a range of issues online at Be Well Gloucestershire (bewellglos.org.uk)

In February 2022, to coincide with Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, the NHS in Gloucestershire launched a new mental health support finder, which signposts children, young people, parents and professionals to appropriate mental health services, including CAMHS, Tic+, Young Minds Matter and Young Gloucestershire, amongst other local services. More information can be found at On Your Mind Gloucestershire - children and young people's mental health.

Tic+, a Gloucestershire based mental health charity providing counselling and support for children, young people and their families offer tic+chat, an anonymous, safe, confidential, 1-2-1, support service for young people aged 9-25 living in Gloucestershire who are struggling with mild or temporary mental health issues due to the Covid-19 pandemic. More information can be found at tic+chat - Tic+ (ticplus.org.uk)