Coronavirus: Youth mental health 'needs recovery plan'

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By Katherine Sellgren
Family and education reporter

The Covid-19 pandemic will have serious long-term consequences for young people's mental health, charities, doctors and educationalists warn.

Thirty organisations have written to the prime minister, urging ministers to take steps to reduce the impact of coronavirus on the mental health of the young - "both now and in the future".

The letter calls for more funding and a national campaign to promote wellbeing.

The government has published advice for supporting children's mental health.

In their letter to Boris Johnson, the organisations call for a five-point recovery plan:

  • immediate emergency funding to increase young people's and families' access to mental-health support

  • a national campaign to promote positive approaches for maintaining mental wellbeing

  • a wellbeing support package for schools

  • additional support for young people's mental health as the country moves out of the pandemic

  • a cross-government strategy for young people's mental health

The letter says the measures the government has taken to limit the spread of the virus, including restrictions on movement and the closure of schools to most students, were "necessary to save lives but will have consequences for young people's mental health".

"One in eight children and young people already has a diagnosable mental health condition and research suggests that the majority of those believe that the pressures created by the crisis are exacerbating their needs," it says.

"Many others - including those who have experienced bereavement, abuse or domestic violence - are also likely to require additional support. "

Fear of the virus, loss of routine and social connection, loneliness, disruption to education, as well as the challenges of living in difficult or dangerous situations are additional pressures for young people, it says.

And disadvantaged and marginalised youngsters may be particularly at risk.

It also says many young people receiving mental-health treatment before the crisis are now receiving "reduced support or no support at all" and others - who would not previously have met the threshold for mental-health support - are likely to require it.

The letter calls for a "clear and co-ordinated approach to tackling the impact of the pandemic on children and young people" and a "clear plan about how to grow and develop services".

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"We welcome the steps that the government has already taken to prioritise mental health, including a £5m fund for organisations providing mental health support and guidance for parents issued through Public Health England," it says.

"However, this falls well short of meeting the scale of need."

"We are absolutely committed to supporting the mental wellbeing of families and children during these extraordinary times.

A government spokeswoman said: "Mental health services are adapting to continue to support families and children through the pandemic and we recently provided £5m to leading mental health charities to help them expand and reach those most in need."

The government was "already spending record amounts to transform mental health care", she added.

In its advice to parents and carers on supporting young people's mental health during the pandemic, the government recommends:

  • providing clear information about the situation

  • limiting exposure to the media

  • creating a new routine

  • connecting regularly

"If you are worried about your child or young person's mental health, seek help from a professional," it says.

The letter is signed by 34 heads of organisations such as the youth charities Young Minds, Barnardo's, Place2Be and Beat, as well as teacher unions and medical groups such as the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

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