Helping children cope

ALTHOUGH Covid-19 restrictions have eased in the UK in recent months, we must not forget of the long-term consequences the pandemic has had on society.

This week, Eastern Eye investigated the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of children and young people. Data has shown a drastic increase in NHS mental health referrals for young people and that nearly 27,000 children are being prescribed anti-depressants each month.

Experts believe that children have struggled with schools being closed and without face-to-face interaction with their peers.

A father described how his sixyear-old son has experienced severe signs of anxiety and stress since the pandemic first began last March.

NHS chiefs have already warned of a mental health pandemic among children, which they believe will become more apparent over the coming years.

Experts have sounded a note of caution about the impact on their education too, with researchers claiming children whose mental health has been affected most by the pandemic are likely to face the greatest challenges catching up at school.

In the worst cases, anxiety over school could lead to persistent absence from education.

The impact the pandemic has had on children has undoubtedly affected their mental health in a very substantial way. It is important to focus on the mental well-being of children to help them overcome the challenges of the last 18 months and regain some sense of normacy.

We need to ensure that there is support for them and offer them a safe space to discuss their feelings, as well as the flexibility and understanding they require to adjust to life after the pandemic.