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The Children’s Commissioner for England and leading psychiatrists have raised the alarm about the mental health of young people during the pandemic, as figures suggest a sharp rise in reports of sleep problems, eating disorders and self-harm.
An investigation by The Guardian on the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on children reveals:
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Sleeping pill prescriptions for those under 18 years of age increased 30% to 186,000 between March and June 2020 compared to two years ago, freedom of information figures show. They fell in love with adults during this time.
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One of the largest private eating disorder services reported a 71% increase in admissions in September compared to the same period last year.
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A charity that offers counseling said that reports of protection problems increased 77% among a small sample of high school children, particularly self-harm.
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Parents have expressed their distress over long waits for children’s services, and a mother is considering moving her son abroad for help.
A separate investigation for the Prince’s Trust found that more than a quarter of young people felt unable to cope with life amid the pandemic and nearly a third had panic attacks. More than one in three young people said they had a hard time thinking clearly.
The UK 2000 Census survey of 16 to 25 year olds also found that nearly half of those learning were worried that losing their education would set them back for the rest of their lives, and more than a third felt that their education had “wasted.” The proportion was significantly higher among people from poorer backgrounds.
The raw data is revealed on day two of a Guardian investigation into the impact of the pandemic on Generation Z, ages seven to 24. On Tuesday, he revealed that Sage’s advisers warned the government that its pandemic policies could result in a lost generation.
Anne Longfield, England’s commissioner for children, said the Guardian’s findings were “powerful” and “really disturbing.” She said: “We need a trained NHS counselor in every school … government plans [for training hundreds of mental health workers to work in and near schools] it will only reach a quarter of the schools in three years. That’s really important, but given the level of disruption in children’s lives … it’s something that needs to be prioritized. “
Dr Bernadka Dubicka, chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ faculty for children and adolescents, said the increase in reported protection issues reflected the university’s concerns about young people “who have had minimal access to educational support, where these concerns are often picked up ”.
She said: “Self-harm in older girls was on the rise before confinement; young people now have to deal with the additional stresses of the pandemic, including uncertainty about their future and the financial impact on families.
“The figures on sleep medications may reflect the increase in emotional difficulties that we have seen in children and youth in recent years. Difficulties sleeping can be a sign of distress and mental health problems. However, it is important that non-drug approaches are tried first. “
Emma Thomas, Young Minds CEO, said: “These alarming findings suggest that the Covid-19 crisis has had a profound impact on the mental health of many young people. This may be related to fear of the virus, social isolation, loss of routine and structure and, in some cases, grief or other traumatic experiences. “
Dozens of parents who responded to a Guardian call said they were struggling to get help from the NHS for their child. One mother said her teenage daughter was told that an evaluation for therapy would take a year. She overdosed on antidepressant medications at the end of the summer and the family is considering moving abroad.
The mother, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: “My daughter has been on the waiting list for mental health services for 14 months. Due to the coronavirus, everything was put on hold. Last month we were told that it would take a few more months to evaluate her and after that, receive therapy, about one to two years.
“Last February, a therapist was concerned about my daughter and decided, with all his heart, to offer her weekly phone calls. She was brilliant, but when these sessions ended after she was transferred to another unit, my daughter overdosed and we ended up at A&E. Later, the CAMHS [children and adolescent mental health services], GP, social services were in contact, but nothing else was done. “
She said the family had been alone since August. “I felt so desperate that I was planning to return to Finland, my home country. I’ve already contacted a school there. Then I thought about flying there with my daughter for treatment. “
A survey of 61 high school kids from Place2Be, a charity that offers counseling in schools, shows that reports of self-harm increased by 77%, from 48 to 85 students, and suicidal ideation increased by 81%, to 76, in the last two months.
Meanwhile, Priory Group said that after a calmer period during the heyday of the lockdown, visits to its private eating disorder services had tripled since April. In September the figures were 71% higher than the same month last year.
The Oxford Center for Eating Disorders said that patients reported feeling more anxious, with an increase in behaviors related to controlling eating to feel more confident amid uncertainty and to compensate for reduced exercise.
Orri, a service specializing in eating disorders, said that consultations in July were 92% higher than in February, before the closing. Within six days of closing, it launched intensive day and night programs online so clients could continue their treatment and progress in recovery.
Longfield said, “Schools have told me that they are happy to prioritize wellness at this time, but are concerned that while they have requirements to assess, they don’t have the funds to support wellness.”
Additional reporting Pamela Duncan
