Conflict up during Covid
COVID has exacerbated tensions within local families, with some young people leaving home due to increased conflict.
Barwon Child, Youth and Family youth services manager Mandy Baxter said family conflict was more common at times of increased stress and uncertainty.
“The close confinement due to Covid-19 restrictions has intensified many issues for parents and teenagers,” Ms Baxter said.
“This increased family conflict has been a major contributing factor behind the increasing number of young people seeking support from our youth service crisis programs over the past 18 months.
“Covid-19 has also impacted youth homelessness across the Barwon South West Region.
“Over the past year, our crisis services saw approximately 60 per cent increase in young people seeking emergency housing support across the region.”
BCYF alcohol and other drugs and mental health services manager Josie Taylor said similar to the youth services area, the team had seen some young people leave the family home due to increased conflict.
BCYF executive director client services Allan Murphy said over the past 18 months, the organisation had seen, across a range of BCYF’s services, the ongoing impact that Covid-19 has had on family relationships and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. “We know that the magnitude of the disruption caused by Covid-19 has exacerbated issues for many young people and it is often these changes that lead to an impact on their mental health,” Mr Murphy said.
“For example, where there was conflict previously, the pandemic is likely to have increased that conflict.
“Similarly, where finances were tight, they are likely to be even tighter and sustained stressors such as these can often lead to the need for support to change the situation.
“Our youth, alcohol and other drugs and mental health, and headspace Geelong services have all continued to see steadily high numbers of young people contacting them for support during this time.
“All of BCYF’s support services, supporting children, young people and their families have continued to operate throughout the pandemic.”