MORE THAN two million children suffered a decline in their mental health since lockdown, a new study reveals.
The research, to mark the fifth anniversary since the first Covid lockdown, highlights the devastating mental health toll on youngsters who lived through Covid and lockdown measures.
Commissioned by Clinical Partners, one of the UK’s leading mental health service providers, the research exposes a mental health crisis now gripping the “Covid Generation.”
It reveals an estimated 2.3 million young adults (18-25) in the UK have suffered a decline in their mental health since the pandemic, with 37 percent saying they feel worse off than before lockdown.
It came as a separate stuy found a 52 percent rise in young people waiting more than a year for mental health support. The analysis of goverment data by the charity Young Minds showed 78,577 children and teens referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services duriing the last full financial year had faced 12-month delays, with 34,191 waiting more than two years.
The figures reveal the average wait for treatment now stands at 392 days, while 171,134 referrals were closed before help was given. Anxiety remains the most diagnosed condition.
The research, from Clinical Partners, based on a survey of 2,000, also found the consequences of COVID-19 extend beyond mental health. Half of young adults (51%) report increased anxiety in the workplace, and 40% believe the pandemic has hindered their career progression. One in five (38%) also feel their pandemic-era qualifications are undervalued by employers.
Socially, 31% of 18-25-year-olds say they have less of a social life since COVID and 23% feel disconnected from the person they were before lockdown. One in five (22%) still reflect on the key life experiences they missed due to the pandemic.
The data also highlights a trend of social withdrawal, with over a third of young women (37%) reporting that they now spend time alone to manage their mental health. This isolating behaviour reinforces the need for accessible mental health support.
One in five (19%) young people say they have turned to smoking and vaping and one in ten (10%) have used alcohol as coping mechanisms for their mental health issues. Although 15% of young people have accessed therapy, barriers to seeking professional support include long waiting times (30%), fear of judgement (28%) and uncertainty about where to turn (20%).
Darcy Newnham, 19, from Bournemouth, who was 15 when lockdown began, says the lockdown effects have been profound. She said:
“I always struggled with depression, but lockdown intensified my mental health issues and made it difficult to maintain friendships. I developed a fear of leaving the house. Online learning was a challenge – I couldn’t engage with my teachers, and I didn’t feel I could ask for help. Since the pandemic, I’ve struggled to maintain stable employment, adapt to work environments and build friendships. I still feel isolated at times and often wonder where I’d be if COVID hadn’t happened.”
“Although I had low moods before lockdown, being unable to use my usual coping mechanisms such as socialising or going for long walks just intensified these feelings. People expected young people to bounce back, but clearly this hasn’t happened for so many of us. The knock on effect of lockdown and online school has affected my whole life.”
Dr Andrea Pickering, Clinical Director of Psychological Therapy at Clinical, comments:
“We are seeing a generation still struggling to move forward, yet many feel unable to reach out for the support they so desperately need. Long waiting lists, fear of being judged and simply not knowing where to turn are leaving young people to suffer in silence.”
She added: “Parents have also felt the strain of helping their children adjust. Nearly six in ten (58%) parents say they found it difficult to support their child’s transition back to normal life, while almost a quarter (24%) feel guilty about the experiences their children missed due to the pandemic. Additionally, one in four parents (24%) report that their own mental health has been negatively impacted since COVID-19.
“The impact of the pandemic on young people and their families is a national concern that requires a collective response. Professional services such as GPs, therapy and counselling are vital, charities like YoungMinds and Samaritans also provide crucial support through helplines, peer networks and online resources. Schools and universities offer counselling and wellbeing services, and workplaces are increasingly recognising the importance of mental health support. No one should face these challenges alone, and ensuring support is visible and accessible remains a priority.”
For more information and resources, visit www.clinical-partners.co.uk.
