Young people 'overwhelmed by panic and anxiety' during lockdown
Fiona Simpson
Thursday, May 21, 2020
More than four in 10 young people say the Covid-19 crisis has increased feelings of panic and anxiety, new research from The Prince’s Trust shows.
A further 32 per cent say they are “overwhelmed” by feelings of panic and anxiety on a daily basis while 69 per cent feel like their life is “on hold”, the survey of 1,022 16- to 25-year-olds showed.
Young people's mental health was particularly affected by the impact the pandemic is having on their education, training or career.
More than a quarter of young people (29 per cent) feel their future career prospects have already been damaged by the coronavirus pandemic and 46 per cent say that finding a job now feels “impossible”. Almost half worry it will be harder than ever to get a job once lockdown measures are lifted.
Among those who are not in education, employment or training (Neet), 58 per cent said they had felt depressed during lockdown compared with 38 per cent of those not classed as Neet.
The Prince’s Trust is calling on the government to put a plan in place to prevent both a youth unemployment crisis and a youth mental health crisis.
Jonathan Townsend, UK chief executive of The Prince’s Trust said: “The report paints a truly stark picture of how the coronavirus crisis is impacting young people all over the UK. An alarming proportion of young people are feeling increased levels of anxiety, and fears are building about their future.
“We cannot allow this crisis to cripple the aspirations and prospects of our nation’s young people. Government, employers and charities need to work together to stop the economic effects of this pandemic from spiralling out of control.”
The report comes as 30 organisations have written to the government calling for more to be done to decrease the impact of Covid-19 on children and young people’s mental health.
Previous research by children’s mental health charity Young Minds showed that 83 per cent of young people with mental health needs said these had deteriorated during the pandemic.
The coalition behind the Beyond Tomorrow campaign has said the government’s £5m investment in organisation providing mental health support “falls well short of meeting the scale of need”.
“One in eight children and young people already have 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.
“Many others – including those who have experienced bereavement, abuse or domestic violence – are also likely to require additional support. The fear of becoming ill or seeing a loved one become ill, the loss of routines, the difficulties of social connection, the impact of loneliness, the disruption to education and the challenges of living in difficult or dangerous situations are creating additional pressure for young people across the country. Young people who belong to groups that are already marginalised or disadvantaged may be particularly at risk,” the letter states.
The group has called on the government to:
- Offer immediate emergency funding to increase young people’s and families’ access to mental health support through youth organisations, charities and helplines; and ensure that clear routes are available for young people to access NHS mental health services while restrictions are in place.
- Launch a national campaign to reach 10 million children and young people, and their families, to promote positive approaches for maintaining mental wellbeing, working alongside the voluntary sector to do so.
- Deliver a wellbeing support package for schools, enabling them to prioritise wellbeing now and over the next academic year, and providing guidance and resources on how to manage transitions when it is safe for students to return to school.
- Commit to introducing additional support for young people’s mental health as we move out of the pandemic to meet rising demand, including re-committing to the measures outlined in the NHS Long Term Plan in full and funding additional early intervention services.
- Launch a cross-government strategy for young people’s mental health, taking a ‘young people’s wellbeing in all policies’ approach to future policy-making and addressing inequalities that can contribute towards worse mental health.
Meanwhile, in a bid to support children suffering from poor mental health during lockdown, The Children’s Society has launched a Give Hope campaign, calling on people to buy an essential gift for a young person during lockdown.
Mark Russell, chief executive of The Children’s Society said: “Lockdown has trapped many young people in their homes, facing increased danger and neglect. Many are in poverty, coping with worsening mental and physical health.
“We know these gifts will make a huge difference to the morale of young people - helping them feel connected, or allowing them to participate in an activity or to have a decent meal.”
