Children’s and young people’s mental well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic
We were commissioned by Public Health Wales to review the evidence on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated government measures on the mental well-being of babies, children, and young people. While the health repercussions of this virus are relatively mild when it comes to children and young people, the provisions and measures that were put in place to stop the spread are likely to affect the lives and well-being of the younger generation disproportionally at a crucial time in their emotional and physical development.
Our report provided a narrative synthesis that summarised the characteristics and findings of the literature, and also included an analysis of data from Understanding Society to describe recent changes in mental well-being. The review included evidence focusing on the impact of COVID-19 on the four core Mental Well-being Impact Assessment (MWIA) protective factors for mental well-being: enhancing control, increasing resilience and community assets, facilitating participation and inclusion, and wider determinants of mental well-being, inequalities, and population characteristics.
Our research found that although the pandemic resulted in some positive outcomes (for example, feeling relief from social pressure and bullying, spending more time with family, taking up new hobbies, and having the time to adopt healthier behaviours), the evidence overwhelmingly points to a negative impact on all aspects of mental well-being among children and young people.
Here are some of our key findings:
· Parental stress and feelings of loneliness and isolation because of social distancing were associated with worse outcomes.
· Extreme cases may be leading to an increase in the number of children who witness or fall victims to domestic abuse and sexual violence during their increased time at home. Calls to the national domestic abuse helpline were much higher after lockdown than it was before.
· School and university closures were responsible for many of the worries and anxieties children and young people have been experiencing, because of the disruption of both academic and non-academic services. The latter include providing nutritious meals, shelter, and counselling services, as well as fostering feelings of belonging and a sense of community.
· Adolescents and young adults exhibit depression, anxiety, and other adverse outcomes more so than older adults or younger peers.
Public Health Wales will use the report findings to support a Mental Well-being Impact Assessment (MWIA) of the impact of COVID-19 on children and young people aged 10 to 24 years to inform policy and decision-making among stakeholders in Wales.