Whilst the country has been focused on taking measures to mitigate the transmission and economic effect of COVID-19 through stringent restrictions, these measures have come at a cost with regards to the mental health of young people. Large amounts of often speculative and anxiety inducing information has been released, frequent changes to routine have occurred and social infrastructure has broken down. The figures released by NHS Digital today demonstrate the substantial impact of these measures on youth mental health, which was already declining prior to the crisis. Dr Krause, consultant clinical psychologist, CEO, and Founder of stem4 is here to highlight the main findings, and give us insight as to what they can tell us about young people’s mental health now and how we must act going forward.
In 2017, NHS Digital confirmed that 1 in 9 children and young people aged 5-16 years presented with a probable mental disorder. In July 2020, this same age group saw 1 in 6 presenting with a probable mental disorder. In addition, both boys and girls presented with around a 5% rate increase of mental ill health over the three years. It is clear, therefore, that the number of young people affected by mental health conditions is on the rise.
For those with pre-existing mental ill health conditions, waiting for treatment has seen delays, as per all other physical illness conditions as a result of the pandemic, with 21.7% of those with a probable mental disorder reporting lack of access to help. Furthermore, the study confirmed that out of the children and young people who were unlikely to have a mental disorder, most (76.4%) had been receiving mental health support from schools or colleges. Disruption of attendance to education as a result of the pandemic thus also disrupts access to support and treatment at an early stage.
The report also revealed that nearly two-thirds girls (63%) aged 11 to 16 with probable mental disorders had seen or heard an argument among adults in their household. Given that mental ill health in girls increases with age and that those with mental ill health conditions are more vulnerable to secondary mental ill health issues such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder or self-harm, this is concerning. The inference from these figures, points to higher family discord for those young people with a probable mental disorder. Isolation and quarantine measures would therefore be counter-productive for a young person’s mental health if isolation at home meant more exposure to family conflict. Urgent care is needed to keep children and young people safe and to support families under strain. The study also indicates higher reports of negative changes in circumstances and activities in families where young people experience higher levels of probable mental disorder.
Further, the research reported an increase in sleep problems (41%) in the 17-22, year-old group. Sleep problems are often a sign of, and also may lead to, mental ill health. The lack of routine and structure imposed by the pandemic with frequent disruptions to access to activity and exercise will not help with this.
One of the most concerning rises in poor mental health is in the 17 to 22, year-old group with 27.2% women and 13.3% young men identified with probable mental disorder. Given the additional stressful experiences this group of young people have experienced through disrupted schooling, cancelled exams, inaccurately predicted exam results and university lockdown and isolation, this is extremely concerning and urgent focus is needed on ways to support the mental health of this population.
Very sadly, 1 in 10 children and young people 11-22 years report often or always feeling lonely, with those with a mental disorder eight times more likely to report feeling lonely. It is imperative to balance whether the current isolation and restriction measures taken as a precaution to mitigate transmission to the vulnerable are truly effective. It must be considered whether they are worth taking given the compelling and real figures on the effect of these measures on the mental health of another (even more vulnerable) population who will have to face the multiple negative consequences of such impact as they grow into adulthood.
