The impact of the pandemic on children and young people’s mental health
Children and young people across the UK are facing short, medium and long-term impacts on their mental health and emotional wellbeing, as a result of the pandemic. To coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week, we worked with Censuswide to survey 1,012 children and young people aged 11-18 as well as over 1,000 parents.
Of the children and young people we surveyed:
More than two thirds believe that young people’s mental health has got worse as a result of the pandemic
1 in 3 would not feel comfortable asking for support if they felt they needed help with their mental health
Of the parents we surveyed:
More than a third said that their child’s mood and behaviour had changed for the worse since the beginning of the pandemic
A third said that child’s worries or anxieties had often affected their mood or behaviour, since the first national lockdown.
The survey also found that children and young people would feel most comfortable speaking to a parent or carer (49%), friends (15%) or other relatives (9%) about their mental health, suggesting that they are most likely to open up to someone close to them. Nearly half (49%) of the children and young people surveyed had spoken about their mental health with a family member, close friend of trusted adult during the pandemic.
This survey clearly shows that children and young people right across the UK have faced real difficulties with their mental health and emotional wellbeing. However we can all play a role in addressing early signs of worry and anxiety, simply by showing children and young people that we’re here to support them and to listen to them.
Use the links below to find out about the work we are doing to support children with their mental health, as well as how you can donate.
